diff --git a/common/ImageBuffer.cpp b/common/ImageBuffer.cpp
index 6d448e809..22b3c882c 100644
--- a/common/ImageBuffer.cpp
+++ b/common/ImageBuffer.cpp
@@ -324,6 +324,17 @@ size_t ImageBuffer::GetBufferSize() const {
     return buffer_size;
 }
 
+ImageBufferStatus ImageBuffer::GetSlotStatus() const {
+    ImageBufferStatus ret{};
+    std::unique_lock ul(m);
+    ret.total_slots = slot_count;
+    ret.available_slots = slot_count - slots_sending - slots_preparation;
+    ret.preparation_slots = slots_preparation;
+    ret.sending_slots = slots_sending;
+    ret.current_counter = counter;
+    return ret;
+}
+
 ImageBufferStatus ImageBuffer::GetStatus() const {
     ImageBufferStatus ret;
     {
diff --git a/common/ImageBuffer.h b/common/ImageBuffer.h
index 8c954d419..e480b7b19 100644
--- a/common/ImageBuffer.h
+++ b/common/ImageBuffer.h
@@ -92,5 +92,7 @@ public:
     void SaveStartMessage(const std::vector<uint8_t> &msg);
     void GetStartMessage(std::vector<uint8_t> &out_v);
 
+    // Only the slot counters, no image list: cheap enough to call for every image
+    ImageBufferStatus GetSlotStatus() const;
     ImageBufferStatus GetStatus() const;
 };
diff --git a/receiver/JFJochReceiverFPGA.cpp b/receiver/JFJochReceiverFPGA.cpp
index 9d6d1c4a6..0bea442ac 100644
--- a/receiver/JFJochReceiverFPGA.cpp
+++ b/receiver/JFJochReceiverFPGA.cpp
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ void JFJochReceiverFPGA::FrameTransformationThread(uint32_t threadid) {
 
             analyzer->Process(message, local_spot_finding_settings);
 
-            auto status = image_buffer.GetStatus();
+            auto status = image_buffer.GetSlotStatus();
             message.receiver_buf_available = status.available_slots;
             message.receiver_buf_in_preparation = status.preparation_slots;
             message.receiver_buf_in_sending = status.sending_slots;
diff --git a/receiver/JFJochReceiverRugnuxStills.cpp b/receiver/JFJochReceiverRugnuxStills.cpp
index 704839001..f57343ee3 100644
--- a/receiver/JFJochReceiverRugnuxStills.cpp
+++ b/receiver/JFJochReceiverRugnuxStills.cpp
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ ZeroCopyReturnValue *JFJochReceiverRugnuxStills::AnalysedImageSlot() {
 
 void JFJochReceiverRugnuxStills::SendAnalysedImage(DataMessage &message, const AzimuthalIntegrationProfile &profile) {
     try {
-        const auto status = image_buffer.GetStatus();
+        const auto status = image_buffer.GetSlotStatus();
         message.receiver_buf_available = status.available_slots;
         message.receiver_buf_in_preparation = status.preparation_slots;
         message.receiver_buf_in_sending = status.sending_slots;
diff --git a/tests/ImageBufferTest.cpp b/tests/ImageBufferTest.cpp
index 977c5ad81..9cd262217 100644
--- a/tests/ImageBufferTest.cpp
+++ b/tests/ImageBufferTest.cpp
@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ TEST_CASE("ImageBuffer") {
     REQUIRE(buf_ctrl.GetStatus().preparation_slots == 2);
     REQUIRE(buf_ctrl.GetStatus().sending_slots == 2);
     REQUIRE(buf_ctrl.GetStatus().available_slots == 0);
+    REQUIRE(buf_ctrl.GetSlotStatus().total_slots == 4);
+    REQUIRE(buf_ctrl.GetSlotStatus().preparation_slots == 2);
+    REQUIRE(buf_ctrl.GetSlotStatus().sending_slots == 2);
+    REQUIRE(buf_ctrl.GetSlotStatus().available_slots == 0);
 
     ret2->ReadyToSend();
     ret3->ReadyToSend();