diff --git a/src/aare/gui/panels/portrait_mode.py b/src/aare/gui/panels/portrait_mode.py
index 5d66f104..d65231df 100644
--- a/src/aare/gui/panels/portrait_mode.py
+++ b/src/aare/gui/panels/portrait_mode.py
@@ -257,6 +257,12 @@ class PortraitModePanel(QWidget):
         self.setMaximumWidth(self.PORTRAIT_WIDTH)
         self.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Fixed, QSizePolicy.Expanding)
 
+        # Created here rather than in the build helper so the attributes are
+        # initialized in __init__ (basedpyright gate); the helper styles and
+        # mounts them.
+        self._name_lbl = QLabel("—")
+        self._sub_lbl = QLabel("No sample queued")
+
         self._job_list_panel = None
         self._tell_samples = None
         self._is_running = False
@@ -350,10 +356,8 @@ class PortraitModePanel(QWidget):
         cam_card_layout.addWidget(cam_widget)
         layout.addWidget(cam_card)
 
-        # Sample name labels
-        self._name_lbl = QLabel("—")
+        # Sample name labels (created in __init__)
         self._name_lbl.setStyleSheet(f"color: {TEXT}; font-size: {FONT_VALUE}; font-weight: 700;")
-        self._sub_lbl = QLabel("No sample queued")
         self._sub_lbl.setStyleSheet(f"color: {SUBTEXT}; font-size: {FONT_HINT};")
         layout.addWidget(self._name_lbl)
         layout.addWidget(self._sub_lbl)
@@ -606,7 +610,7 @@ class PortraitModePanel(QWidget):
             placeholder.setStyleSheet(
                 f"color: {SUBTEXT}; font-size: {FONT_LABEL}; font-weight: 700;"
             )
-            placeholder.setAlignment(Qt.AlignCenter)
+            placeholder.setAlignment(Qt.AlignmentFlag.AlignCenter)
             self._queue_inner_layout.addWidget(placeholder)
             return