diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index e3ddcd89..57e92338 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ classifiers = [
 dependencies = [
   "labthings-fastapi[server] == 0.0.7",
   "labthings-sangaboard",
-  "camera-stage-mapping ~= 0.1.7",
+  "camera-stage-mapping ~= 0.1.8",
   "opencv-python ~= 4.7.0",
   "pillow ~= 10.4",
   "anyio ~= 4.0",
diff --git a/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/camera_stage_mapping.py b/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/camera_stage_mapping.py
index 5efdfb59..a860636f 100644
--- a/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/camera_stage_mapping.py
+++ b/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/camera_stage_mapping.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ from camera_stage_mapping.camera_stage_calibration_1d import (
     calibrate_backlash_1d,
     image_to_stage_displacement_from_1d,
 )
+from camera_stage_mapping.exceptions import MappingError
 from labthings_fastapi.dependencies.invocation import (
     InvocationCancelledError,
     InvocationLogger,
@@ -207,9 +208,14 @@ class CameraStageMapper(Thing):
                 tracker, move, direction_array, logger=logger
             )
         except InvocationCancelledError as e:
+            logger.info("User cancelled the camera stage mapping calibration")
             logger.info("Returning to starting position")
             stage.move_absolute(**starting_position, block_cancellation=True)
             raise e
+        except MappingError as e:
+            logger.info("Returning to starting position due to failed calibration")
+            stage.move_absolute(**starting_position, block_cancellation=True)
+            raise e
         result["move_history"] = move.history
         result["image_resolution"] = hw.grab_image().shape[:2]
         return result