diff --git a/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/scan_workflows.py b/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/scan_workflows.py
index 9bc61846..9fc132c5 100644
--- a/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/scan_workflows.py
+++ b/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/scan_workflows.py
@@ -370,6 +370,11 @@ class HistoScanWorkflow(RectGridWorkflow[HistoScanSettingsModel]):
     * 200 for 20x
     """
 
+    equal_distances: bool = lt.setting(default=False)
+    """Make the distances in x and y equal in motor steps, rather than in overlap.
+
+    Uses the shorter distance (usually dy) as both dx and dy"""
+
     # The noqa statement is because scan_name is unused but is needed for equivalence
     # with other workflows that may want to validate the scan name.
     def check_before_start(self, scan_name: str) -> None:  # noqa: ARG002
@@ -408,7 +413,22 @@ class HistoScanWorkflow(RectGridWorkflow[HistoScanSettingsModel]):
         return self._background_detector.ready
 
     def _build_scan_settings(self, base_kwargs: dict) -> HistoScanSettingsModel:
-        """Construct the SettingModel for all_settings."""
+        """Construct the SettingModel for all_settings.
+
+        Adjust dx and dy to be equal if `equal_distances` is set.
+        """
+        # Make dx and dy equal if requested
+        if self.equal_distances:
+            dx = abs(base_kwargs.get("dx", 0))
+            dy = abs(base_kwargs.get("dy", 0))
+            min_displacement = min(dx, dy)
+            base_kwargs["dx"] = min_displacement
+            base_kwargs["dy"] = min_displacement
+
+        self.logger.info(
+            f"Scanning with steps of dx={base_kwargs['dx']} and dy={base_kwargs['dy']}."
+        )
+
         return HistoScanSettingsModel(
             **base_kwargs,
             max_dist=self.max_range,
@@ -576,7 +596,10 @@ class HistoScanWorkflow(RectGridWorkflow[HistoScanSettingsModel]):
                 self, "max_range", label="Maximum Distance (steps)", step=1000
             ),
             property_control_for(
-                self, "skip_background", label="Detect and Skip Empty Fields "
+                self, "skip_background", label="Detect and Skip Empty Fields"
+            ),
+            property_control_for(
+                self, "equal_distances", label="Set Equal x and y Distances"
             ),
         ]
 
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_scan_workflows.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_scan_workflows.py
index 50c27cdc..483b1f99 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_scan_workflows.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_scan_workflows.py
@@ -133,6 +133,31 @@ def test_histo_workflow_settings_generation(histo_workflow, mocker):
     assert workflow_settings.capture_params.images_dir == "/this/img_dir"
 
 
+def test_histo_workflow_settings_generation_equal_overlap(histo_workflow, mocker):
+    """Check that setting x and y equal behaves as expected."""
+    mocker.patch.object(
+        histo_workflow, "_calc_displacement_from_overlap", return_value=(123, 456)
+    )
+
+    # Different when False
+    histo_workflow.equal_distances = False
+    workflow_settings, _stitching_settings = histo_workflow.all_settings(
+        "/this/img_dir"
+    )
+
+    assert workflow_settings.dx == 123
+    assert workflow_settings.dy == 456
+
+    # Same when set True
+    histo_workflow.equal_distances = True
+    workflow_settings, _stitching_settings = histo_workflow.all_settings(
+        "/this/img_dir"
+    )
+
+    assert workflow_settings.dx == 123
+    assert workflow_settings.dy == 123
+
+
 # A CSM that is "normal" changing from camera maxtrix coordinates (y,x) to normal
 # (x, y) coordinates
 CSM_NORMAL = [
@@ -349,7 +374,7 @@ def test_histo_workflow_settings_ui(histo_workflow):
     """Check that the workflow specifies the expected controls."""
     ui = histo_workflow.settings_ui
 
-    assert len(ui) == 7
+    assert len(ui) == 8
     for element in ui:
         assert isinstance(element, PropertyControl)
 
@@ -362,5 +387,6 @@ def test_histo_workflow_settings_ui(histo_workflow):
         "autofocus_dz",
         "max_range",
         "skip_background",
+        "equal_distances",
     ]
     assert names == expected_names