diff --git a/src/aslm/controller/controller.py b/src/aslm/controller/controller.py
index 70b8bfae6..c3163d97f 100644
--- a/src/aslm/controller/controller.py
+++ b/src/aslm/controller/controller.py
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ def change_microscope(self, microscope_name):
         ] = microscope_name
         if self.configuration_controller.change_microscope():
             # update widgets
-            self.stage_controller.initialize(f"{microscope_name}")
+            self.stage_controller.initialize()
             self.channels_tab_controller.initialize()
 
     def initialize_cam_view(self):
@@ -334,6 +334,7 @@ def populate_experiment_setting(self, file_name=None, in_initialize=False):
         microscope_name = self.configuration["experiment"]["MicroscopeState"][
             "microscope_name"
         ]
+        self.configuration_controller.change_microscope()
         self.menu_controller.resolution_value.set(
             f"{microscope_name} "
             f"{self.configuration['experiment']['MicroscopeState']['zoom']}"
@@ -353,7 +354,7 @@ def populate_experiment_setting(self, file_name=None, in_initialize=False):
 
         # set widget modes
         self.set_mode_of_sub("stop")
-        self.stage_controller.initialize(f"{microscope_name}")
+        self.stage_controller.initialize()
 
     def update_experiment_setting(self):
         """Update model.experiment according to values in the GUI
diff --git a/src/aslm/controller/sub_controllers/stage_controller.py b/src/aslm/controller/sub_controllers/stage_controller.py
index 4dc30054a..1f70429d0 100644
--- a/src/aslm/controller/sub_controllers/stage_controller.py
+++ b/src/aslm/controller/sub_controllers/stage_controller.py
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ def __init__(self, view, main_view, canvas, parent_controller):
         self.joystick_is_on = False
         self.joystick_axes = self.parent_controller.configuration["configuration"][
             "microscopes"
-        ][self.default_microscope]["stage"]["joystick_axes"]
+        ][self.default_microscope]["stage"].get("joystick_axes", [])
 
         self.main_view = main_view
         self.canvas = canvas
@@ -194,14 +194,9 @@ def stage_key_press(self, event):
                 current_position["x"] += xy_increment
         self.set_position(current_position)
 
-    def initialize(self, microscope_name=None):
+    def initialize(self):
         """Initialize the Stage limits of steps and positions
 
-        Parameters
-        ----------
-        microscope_name : str
-            Name of the microscope at the time of initialization
-
         Returns
         -------
         None
@@ -230,13 +225,11 @@ def initialize(self, microscope_name=None):
             widgets[step_axis + "_step"].set(step_dict[axis])
 
         # Joystick
-
-        if microscope_name is None:
-            microscope_name = self.default_microscope
+        microscope_name = config.microscope_name
 
         self.new_joystick_axes = self.parent_controller.configuration["configuration"][
             "microscopes"
-        ][f"{microscope_name}"]["stage"]["joystick_axes"]
+        ][f"{microscope_name}"]["stage"].get("joystick_axes", [])
 
         if self.view.stop_frame.joystick_btn.winfo_ismapped():
             if self.new_joystick_axes is None or list(self.new_joystick_axes) == []: