diff --git a/src/aare/daq/daq.py b/src/aare/daq/daq.py
index 30de75c4..45040881 100644
--- a/src/aare/daq/daq.py
+++ b/src/aare/daq/daq.py
@@ -357,6 +357,9 @@ class AareDAQ:
             },
         }
 
+    def read_current_state_from_bec(self):
+        return self._devs.read_current_state_from_bec()
+
     def restart_bec_worker(self) -> dict[str, object]:
         self._cfg.try_set_busy(timeout=360)
         try:
diff --git a/src/aare/daq/devices.py b/src/aare/daq/devices.py
index 252d5121..16a46b99 100644
--- a/src/aare/daq/devices.py
+++ b/src/aare/daq/devices.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ from aarecommon.config.logger import setup_logger
 from aarecommon.config.logger_events import log_timing
 from aarecommon.math.coordinate import AerotechCoordinate, SmargonCoordinate
 from aarecommon.models.beamline import MXBeamline
-from aarecommon.models.models import SampleCameraSettings, StagePositionEnum
+from aarecommon.models.models import BeamlineStateEnum, SampleCameraSettings, StagePositionEnum
 from epics import PV
 
 from aare.devices import aerotech, smargon
@@ -353,6 +353,9 @@ class BeamlineDevices:
     def smargon_initialize(self):
         self._smargon.initialize()
 
+    def read_current_state_from_bec(self) -> BeamlineStateEnum:
+        return self.bec_worker.read_current_state()
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     from aarecommon.config.beamline import mx_beamline
diff --git a/src/aare/daq/server.py b/src/aare/daq/server.py
index 079e6872..b2085a5b 100644
--- a/src/aare/daq/server.py
+++ b/src/aare/daq/server.py
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ async def lifespan(application: FastAPI):
     bl = mx_beamline()
     cfg = BeamlineConfig(bl)
     daq = AareDAQ(cfg, bl)
+    cfg.state = daq.read_current_state_from_bec()
 
     try:
         cfg.reset_automation_progress()
diff --git a/src/aare/devices/bec_worker.py b/src/aare/devices/bec_worker.py
index d7ea6249..16f89cfa 100644
--- a/src/aare/devices/bec_worker.py
+++ b/src/aare/devices/bec_worker.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from aarecommon.config.logger import setup_logger
 from aarecommon.config.logger_events import log_timing
 from aarecommon.errors.exception_handler import BECCommunicationError
 from aarecommon.models.beamline import MXBeamline
+from aarecommon.models.models import BeamlineStateEnum
 from bec_ipython_client import BECIPythonClient
 from bec_ipython_client.signals import OperationMode
 from bec_lib.device import RPCError, ScanRequestError
@@ -49,6 +50,24 @@ class BeamlineState(str, Enum):
     XTAL_SNAPSHOT = "xtal_snapshot"
 
 
+def _bec_state_to_aare_state(bec_state: BeamlineState) -> BeamlineStateEnum:
+    map = {
+        BeamlineState.BEAMSTOP_ALIGNMENT: BeamlineStateEnum.BeamstopAlignment,
+        BeamlineState.SAMPLE_ALIGNMENT: BeamlineStateEnum.SampleAlignment,
+        BeamlineState.DATA_COLLECTION: BeamlineStateEnum.DataCollection,
+        BeamlineState.DC_XRF: BeamlineStateEnum.XrayFluorescence,
+        BeamlineState.MANUAL_SAMPLE_EXCHANGE: BeamlineStateEnum.SampleExchange,
+        BeamlineState.BEAM_VISUALISATION: BeamlineStateEnum.BeamLocation,
+        BeamlineState.FLUX_MEASUREMENT: BeamlineStateEnum.FluxMeasurement,
+        BeamlineState.BEAMSTOP_ALIGNMENT: BeamlineStateEnum.BeamstopAlignment,
+        BeamlineState.MAINTENANCE: BeamlineStateEnum.Maintenance,
+        BeamlineState.XTAL_SNAPSHOT: BeamlineStateEnum.XtalSnapshot,
+    }
+    if bec_state in map:
+        return map[bec_state]
+    return BeamlineStateEnum.Maintenance
+
+
 class BECClientWorker:
     def __init__(self, beamline: MXBeamline, name: str = "default"):
         BEAMLINE = beamline.value.lower()
@@ -101,7 +120,7 @@ class BECClientWorker:
             self._zoom = self.dev.scam_zoom
             self._ring_current = self.dev.sls_current
         except Exception as e:
-            logger.error(f"Error initialising planar and position devices: {e}")
+            logger.error(f"Error initialising planner and position devices: {e}")
             self.position_devices = None
             self.planner = None
             self._backlight_brightness = None
@@ -115,6 +134,14 @@ class BECClientWorker:
                 self.ring_current = None
             raise RuntimeError(f"Error initialising BEC devices: {e}") from e
 
+    def read_current_state(self) -> BeamlineStateEnum:
+        if self.planner is None:
+            return BeamlineStateEnum.Maintenance
+        matching_states = self.planner.current_state()
+        if matching_states is None or len(matching_states) > 1:
+            return BeamlineStateEnum.Maintenance
+        return _bec_state_to_aare_state(matching_states[0])
+
     def _bec_error(
         self, exc: Exception, *, operation: str, tags: list[str] | None = None
     ) -> BECCommunicationError: