diff --git a/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/autofocus.py b/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/autofocus.py
index eb5c294f..fc9f4a0a 100644
--- a/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/autofocus.py
+++ b/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/autofocus.py
@@ -50,6 +50,9 @@ class JPEGSharpnessMonitor:
 
     def start(self):
         "Start monitoring sharpness by looking at JPEG size"
+        if not self.camera.stream_active:
+            logging.warn("Autofocus sharpness monitor was started but the camera isn't streaming.  Attempting to start the stream...")
+            self.camera.start_stream_recording()
         self.background_thread = Thread(target=self._measure_jpegs)
         self.background_thread.start()
         return self
@@ -92,15 +95,20 @@ class JPEGSharpnessMonitor:
 
     def move_data(self, istart, istop=None):
         "Extract sharpness as a function of (interpolated) z"
-        global np, logging
         if istop is None:
             istop = istart + 2
         jpeg_times = np.array(self.jpeg_times)
         jpeg_sizes = np.array(self.jpeg_sizes)
         stage_times = np.array(self.stage_times)[istart:istop]
         stage_zs = np.array(self.stage_positions)[istart:istop, 2]
-        start = np.argmax(jpeg_times > stage_times[0])
-        stop = np.argmax(jpeg_times > stage_times[1])
+        try:
+            start = np.argmax(jpeg_times > stage_times[0])
+            stop = np.argmax(jpeg_times > stage_times[1])
+        except ValueError as e:
+            if np.sum(jpeg_times > stage_times[0]) == 0:
+                raise ValueError("No images were captured during the move of the stage.  Perhaps the camera is not streaming images?")
+            else:
+                raise e
         if stop < 1:
             stop = len(jpeg_times)
             logging.debug("changing stop to {}".format(stop))
@@ -111,6 +119,8 @@ class JPEGSharpnessMonitor:
     def sharpest_z_on_move(self, index):
         """Return the z position of the sharpest image on a given move"""
         jt, jz, js = self.move_data(index)
+        if len(js) == 0:
+            raise ValueError("No images were captured during the move of the stage.  Perhaps the camera is not streaming images?")
         return jz[np.argmax(js)]
 
     def data_dict(self):
@@ -372,7 +382,8 @@ class FastAutofocusAPI(View):
 
 
 autofocus_extension_v2 = BaseExtension(
-    "org.openflexure.autofocus", version="2.0.0"
+    "org.openflexure.autofocus", version="2.0.0",
+    description="Actions to move the microscope in Z and pick the point with the sharpest image."
 )
 
 autofocus_extension_v2.add_method(fast_autofocus, "fast_autofocus")