diff --git a/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/beam_device.py b/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/beam_device.py
index 439e19117a99b38f5279508979e6d347b8af2506..90e1e4e36cd75c0897e9d63c6a5baf1d3b7252a9 100644
--- a/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/beam_device.py
+++ b/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/beam_device.py
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ class beam_device(lofar_device):
     def configure_for_initialise(self, num_pointings):
         super().configure_for_initialise()
 
-        if num_pointings > self.MAX_POINTINGS:
+        if not (0 < num_pointings <= self.MAX_POINTINGS):
             raise ValueError(f"beam_device is configured to support 0 - {self.MAX_POINTINGS} pointings, but {num_pointings} were requested")
 
         # Initialise tracking control