diff --git a/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/lofar_device.py b/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/lofar_device.py
index 49ce86bfb663b87685ee23c205203f1bfce31f26..0c13cf057df55be2895376c87a75427efb55ce29 100644
--- a/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/lofar_device.py
+++ b/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/lofar_device.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ from abc import abstractmethod
 
 # PyTango imports
 from tango.server import Device, command, DeviceMeta, attribute
-from tango import AttrWriteType, DevState, DebugIt, Attribute, DeviceProxy
+from tango import AttrWriteType, DevState, DebugIt, Attribute, DeviceProxy, DevFailed
 
 import time
 import math
@@ -284,13 +284,11 @@ class lofar_device(Device, metaclass=AbstractDeviceMetas):
             pollperiod:  how often to check the attribute, in seconds.
         """
 
-        attr = getattr(self.proxy, attr_name)
-
         # Poll every half a second
         for _ in range(math.ceil(timeout/pollperiod)):
-            if attr != value:
+            if getattr(self.proxy, attr_name) != value:
                 return
 
             time.sleep(pollperiod)
 
-        raise Exception(f"{attr} != {value} after f{timeout} seconds still.")
+        raise Exception(f"{attr_name} != {value} after {timeout} seconds still.")