diff --git a/src/pymodaq_plugins_thorlabs/daq_move_plugins/daq_move_KinesisIntegratedStepper.py b/src/pymodaq_plugins_thorlabs/daq_move_plugins/daq_move_KinesisIntegratedStepper.py
index b36a049..a6b2995 100644
--- a/src/pymodaq_plugins_thorlabs/daq_move_plugins/daq_move_KinesisIntegratedStepper.py
+++ b/src/pymodaq_plugins_thorlabs/daq_move_plugins/daq_move_KinesisIntegratedStepper.py
@@ -39,10 +39,11 @@ def commit_settings(self, param):
     def ini_stage(self, controller=None):
         """
         """
-        self.controller = self.ini_stage_init(controller, IntegratedStepper())
-
-        if self.settings['multiaxes', 'multi_status'] == "Master":
+        if self.is_master:
+            self.controller = IntegratedStepper()
             self.controller.connect(self.settings['serial_number'])
+        else:
+            self.controller = controller
 
         info = self.controller.name
         self.settings.child('controller_id').setValue(info)
diff --git a/src/pymodaq_plugins_thorlabs/daq_move_plugins/daq_move_MFF101_pylablib.py b/src/pymodaq_plugins_thorlabs/daq_move_plugins/daq_move_MFF101_pylablib.py
index ab1e0d3..acd6063 100644
--- a/src/pymodaq_plugins_thorlabs/daq_move_plugins/daq_move_MFF101_pylablib.py
+++ b/src/pymodaq_plugins_thorlabs/daq_move_plugins/daq_move_MFF101_pylablib.py
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ def ini_stage(self,controller=None):
             #check whether this stage is controlled by a multiaxe controller (to be defined for each plugin)
 
             # if multiaxes then init the controller here if Master state otherwise use external controller
-            if self.settings.child('multiaxes','ismultiaxes').value() and self.settings.child('multiaxes','multi_status').value()=="Slave":
+            if not self.is_master:
                 if controller is None: 
                     raise Exception('no controller has been defined externally while this axe is a slave one')
                 else:
diff --git a/src/pymodaq_plugins_thorlabs/daq_viewer_plugins/plugins_0D/daq_0Dviewer_Kinesis_KPA101.py b/src/pymodaq_plugins_thorlabs/daq_viewer_plugins/plugins_0D/daq_0Dviewer_Kinesis_KPA101.py
index f91cad6..a9fb9a4 100644
--- a/src/pymodaq_plugins_thorlabs/daq_viewer_plugins/plugins_0D/daq_0Dviewer_Kinesis_KPA101.py
+++ b/src/pymodaq_plugins_thorlabs/daq_viewer_plugins/plugins_0D/daq_0Dviewer_Kinesis_KPA101.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def ini_detector(self, controller=None):
         self.status.update(edict(initialized=False, info="", x_axis=None, y_axis=None, controller=None))
         try:
 
-            if self.settings.child(('controller_status')).value() == "Slave":
+            if not self.is_master:
                 if controller is None: 
                     raise Exception('no controller has been defined externally while this detector is a slave one')
                 else:
diff --git a/src/pymodaq_plugins_thorlabs/daq_viewer_plugins/plugins_0D/daq_0Dviewer_TLPMPowermeter.py b/src/pymodaq_plugins_thorlabs/daq_viewer_plugins/plugins_0D/daq_0Dviewer_TLPMPowermeter.py
index ce1c3ae..785c816 100644
--- a/src/pymodaq_plugins_thorlabs/daq_viewer_plugins/plugins_0D/daq_0Dviewer_TLPMPowermeter.py
+++ b/src/pymodaq_plugins_thorlabs/daq_viewer_plugins/plugins_0D/daq_0Dviewer_TLPMPowermeter.py
@@ -62,17 +62,14 @@ def ini_detector(self, controller=None):
         self.status.update(edict(initialized=False, info="", x_axis=None, y_axis=None, controller=None))
         try:
 
-            if self.settings.child(('controller_status')).value() == "Slave":
-                if controller is None:
-                    raise Exception('no controller has been defined externally while this detector is a slave one')
-                else:
-                    self.controller = controller
-            else:
+            if self.is_master:
                 index = DEVICE_NAMES.index(self.settings['devices'])
                 self.controller = CustomTLPM()
                 info = self.controller.infos.get_devices_info(index)
                 self.controller.open_by_index(index)
                 self.settings.child('info').setValue(str(info))
+            else:
+                self.controller = controller
 
             self.settings.child('wavelength').setOpts(limits=self.controller.wavelength_range)
             self.controller.wavelength = self.settings.child('wavelength').value()
diff --git a/src/pymodaq_plugins_thorlabs/daq_viewer_plugins/plugins_2D/daq_2Dviewer_Thorlabs_DCx.py b/src/pymodaq_plugins_thorlabs/daq_viewer_plugins/plugins_2D/daq_2Dviewer_Thorlabs_DCx.py
index 130e23a..f960614 100644
--- a/src/pymodaq_plugins_thorlabs/daq_viewer_plugins/plugins_2D/daq_2Dviewer_Thorlabs_DCx.py
+++ b/src/pymodaq_plugins_thorlabs/daq_viewer_plugins/plugins_2D/daq_2Dviewer_Thorlabs_DCx.py
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ def ini_detector(self, controller=None):
         try:
             self.status.update(edict(initialized=False, info="", x_axis=None,
                                      y_axis=None, controller=None))
-            if self.settings.child('controller_status').value() == "Slave":
+            if not self.is_master:
                 if controller is None:
                     raise Exception('no controller has been defined externally while'
                                     'this detector is a slave one')