diff --git a/src/main/java/org/micromanager/lightsheetmanager/api/data/AcquisitionMode.java b/src/main/java/org/micromanager/lightsheetmanager/api/data/AcquisitionMode.java
index 34a3ca3..2839d4e 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/micromanager/lightsheetmanager/api/data/AcquisitionMode.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/micromanager/lightsheetmanager/api/data/AcquisitionMode.java
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package org.micromanager.lightsheetmanager.api.data;
 
+import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Arrays;
 
 // TODO: account for different naming on each geometry type (SLICE_SCAN_ONLY)
@@ -39,12 +40,21 @@ public static String[] toArray() {
                 .toArray(String[]::new);
     }
 
-    // TODO: check if stage scanning exists
-    public static String[] getValidKeys() {
-        final AcquisitionMode[] keys = new AcquisitionMode[] {
-                NO_SCAN, STAGE_SCAN, SLICE_SCAN_ONLY, PIEZO_SCAN_ONLY
-        };
-        return Arrays.stream(keys)
+    /**
+     * Returns an array of valid acquisition modes as strings.
+     *
+     * @param isStageScanning {@code true} if stage scanning
+     * @return an array of strings
+     */
+    public static String[] getValidKeys(final boolean isStageScanning) {
+        final ArrayList<AcquisitionMode> keys = new ArrayList<>();
+        keys.add(NO_SCAN);
+        if (isStageScanning) {
+            keys.add(STAGE_SCAN);
+        }
+        keys.add(SLICE_SCAN_ONLY);
+        keys.add(PIEZO_SCAN_ONLY);
+        return keys.stream()
                 .map(AcquisitionMode::toString)
                 .toArray(String[]::new);
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/micromanager/lightsheetmanager/gui/tabs/AcquisitionTab.java b/src/main/java/org/micromanager/lightsheetmanager/gui/tabs/AcquisitionTab.java
index 5521c04..21d1f2d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/micromanager/lightsheetmanager/gui/tabs/AcquisitionTab.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/micromanager/lightsheetmanager/gui/tabs/AcquisitionTab.java
@@ -157,7 +157,9 @@ private void createUserInterface() {
             pnlChannelTable_.setItemsEnabled(false);
         }
 
-        cmbAcquisitionModes_ = new ComboBox(AcquisitionMode.getValidKeys(),
+        // acquisition mode combo box
+        final boolean isUsingScanSettings = model_.devices().isUsingStageScanning();
+        cmbAcquisitionModes_ = new ComboBox(AcquisitionMode.getValidKeys(isUsingScanSettings),
                 acqSettings.acquisitionMode().toString(),
                 180, 24);
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/micromanager/lightsheetmanager/gui/tabs/SettingsTab.java b/src/main/java/org/micromanager/lightsheetmanager/gui/tabs/SettingsTab.java
index 2c6f909..bf0c3a0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/micromanager/lightsheetmanager/gui/tabs/SettingsTab.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/micromanager/lightsheetmanager/gui/tabs/SettingsTab.java
@@ -47,14 +47,7 @@ private void createUserInterface() {
 
         // check for devices to set up the tab
         isUsingPLogic_ = model_.devices().isUsingPLogic();
-        if (isUsingPLogic_) {
-            final ASIXYStage xyStage = model_.devices().getDevice("SampleXY");
-            if (xyStage != null) {
-                isUsingScanSettings_ = xyStage.hasProperty(ASIXYStage.Properties.SCAN_NUM_LINES);
-            } else {
-                isUsingScanSettings_ = false;
-            }
-        }
+        isUsingScanSettings_ = model_.devices().isUsingStageScanning();
 
         final Panel pnlScanSettings = new Panel("Stage Scan Settings");
         pnlScanSettings.setMigLayout(
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/micromanager/lightsheetmanager/model/DeviceManager.java b/src/main/java/org/micromanager/lightsheetmanager/model/DeviceManager.java
index 5eb623a..3a57e90 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/micromanager/lightsheetmanager/model/DeviceManager.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/micromanager/lightsheetmanager/model/DeviceManager.java
@@ -321,9 +321,8 @@ public boolean hasDeviceAdapter() {
 
     // check for ASI hardware triggering device
     public boolean isUsingPLogic() {
-        // make sure that we have devices set
         if (deviceMap_.get("TriggerLaser") == null && deviceMap_.get("TriggerCamera") == null) {
-            return false;
+            return false; // early exit => devices not set
         }
         // check if both device names contain "PLogic"
         boolean result = false;
@@ -338,6 +337,15 @@ public boolean isUsingPLogic() {
         return result;
     }
 
+    // check for ASI stage scanning
+    public boolean isUsingStageScanning() {
+        if (deviceMap_.get("SampleXY") == null) {
+            return false; // early exit => device not set
+        }
+        return deviceMap_.get("SampleXY")
+                .hasProperty(ASIXYStage.Properties.SCAN_NUM_LINES);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Creates a configuration group named "System" that includes all device properties
      * the Light Sheet Manager device adapter.