diff --git a/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/scan_workflows.py b/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/scan_workflows.py
index 13b6dba3..9d80390d 100644
--- a/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/scan_workflows.py
+++ b/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/scan_workflows.py
@@ -625,12 +625,14 @@ class HistoScanWorkflow(RectGridWorkflow[HistoScanSettingsModel]):
             can_terminate=False,
             notify_on_success=True,
             success_message="Background image has been updated",
+            update_interface_on_response=True,
         )
         check_bg_button = action_button_for(
             self,
             "check_background",
             poll_interval=0.1,
             submit_label="Check Current Image",
+            disabled=not self._background_detector.ready,
             can_terminate=False,
             notify_on_success=True,
             response_is_success_message=True,
diff --git a/src/openflexure_microscope_server/ui.py b/src/openflexure_microscope_server/ui.py
index 9df04f5d..771dccc7 100644
--- a/src/openflexure_microscope_server/ui.py
+++ b/src/openflexure_microscope_server/ui.py
@@ -158,6 +158,9 @@ class ActionButton(BaseModel):
     button_primary: bool = True
     """Specify whether the button is styled as a primary button."""
 
+    disabled: bool = False
+    """Specify whether the button is disabled."""
+
     modal_progress: bool = False
     """Specify whether to show a progress modal."""
 
@@ -180,6 +183,12 @@ class ActionButton(BaseModel):
     success_message: str = "Success!"
     """The message to show on successful completion."""
 
+    update_interface_on_response: bool = False
+    """If True the action button emits a requestUpdate signal when completed.
+
+    Downstream components can subscribe to this and request an update.
+    """
+
 
 def action_button_for(thing: lt.Thing, action_name: str, **kwargs: Any) -> ActionButton:
     """Create a ActionButton data for the specified Thing Action.
diff --git a/webapp/src/components/labThingsComponents/actionButton.vue b/webapp/src/components/labThingsComponents/actionButton.vue
index e5bfda75..eaaaf115 100644
--- a/webapp/src/components/labThingsComponents/actionButton.vue
+++ b/webapp/src/components/labThingsComponents/actionButton.vue
@@ -322,6 +322,9 @@ export default {
         } else if (response.data.status == "cancelled") {
           this.$emit("cancelled", response.data);
           this.modalNotify(`The action '${this.submitLabel}' was cancelled.`);
+        } else if (response.data.status == "error") {
+          const err_msg = this.log?.[0]?.message ?? "Unknown error";
+          this.$emit("error", err_msg);
         }
       }
       this.taskUrl = null;
diff --git a/webapp/src/components/labThingsComponents/serverSpecifiedActionButton.vue b/webapp/src/components/labThingsComponents/serverSpecifiedActionButton.vue
index df1afd23..44b129fe 100644
--- a/webapp/src/components/labThingsComponents/serverSpecifiedActionButton.vue
+++ b/webapp/src/components/labThingsComponents/serverSpecifiedActionButton.vue
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
     :requires-confirmation="actionData.requires_confirmation"
     :confirmation-message="actionData.confirmation_message"
     :button-primary="actionData.button_primary"
+    :is-disabled="actionData.disabled"
     :modal-progress="actionData.modal_progress"
     :stream-with-modal="actionData.stream_with_modal"
     @response="actionResponse"
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ export default {
     },
   },
 
-  emits: ["response", "finished"],
+  emits: ["response", "finished", "requestUpdate"],
 
   methods: {
     /**
@@ -50,6 +51,9 @@ export default {
         } else {
           this.modalNotify(this.actionData.success_message);
         }
+        if (this.actionData.update_interface_on_response) {
+          this.$emit("requestUpdate");
+        }
         this.$emit("response", response);
       }
     },
diff --git a/webapp/src/components/labThingsComponents/serverSpecifiedInterface.vue b/webapp/src/components/labThingsComponents/serverSpecifiedInterface.vue
index 8c47c622..10aa5636 100644
--- a/webapp/src/components/labThingsComponents/serverSpecifiedInterface.vue
+++ b/webapp/src/components/labThingsComponents/serverSpecifiedInterface.vue
@@ -10,12 +10,19 @@
     <server-specified-action-button
       v-else-if="element.element_type === 'action_button'"
       :action-data="element"
+      @request-update="$emit('requestUpdate')"
     />
     <simple-accordion v-else-if="element.element_type === 'accordion'" :title="element.title">
-      <server-specified-interface :elements="element.children" />
+      <server-specified-interface
+        :elements="element.children"
+        @request-update="$emit('requestUpdate')"
+      />
     </simple-accordion>
     <div v-else-if="element.element_type === 'container'" :class="element.css_class">
-      <server-specified-interface :elements="element.children" />
+      <server-specified-interface
+        :elements="element.children"
+        @request-update="$emit('requestUpdate')"
+      />
     </div>
   </div>
 </template>
@@ -41,6 +48,8 @@ export default {
       required: true,
     },
   },
+
+  emits: ["requestUpdate"],
 };
 </script>
 
diff --git a/webapp/src/components/tabContentComponents/slideScanContent.vue b/webapp/src/components/tabContentComponents/slideScanContent.vue
index 8dd82d4c..c74a739e 100644
--- a/webapp/src/components/tabContentComponents/slideScanContent.vue
+++ b/webapp/src/components/tabContentComponents/slideScanContent.vue
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
             </option>
           </select>
         </div>
-        <server-specified-interface :elements="workflowSettings" />
+        <server-specified-interface :elements="workflowSettings" @request-update="readSettings" />
         <ul uk-accordion="multiple: true">
           <li class="uk-open">
             <a class="uk-accordion-title" href="#">Stitching Settings</a>