diff --git a/ohmpi/hardware_system.py b/ohmpi/hardware_system.py
index 2cbfc22eb4fe2fea01da957b922440838dcbc001..ac17e4e9cc653775c414c9f4feefafde8a61542d 100644
--- a/ohmpi/hardware_system.py
+++ b/ohmpi/hardware_system.py
@@ -104,8 +104,8 @@ class OhmPiHardware:
                                'soh_logger': self.soh_logger})
             mux_config.update(**HARDWARE_CONFIG['mux']['boards'][mux_id])
             mux_module = importlib.import_module(f'ohmpi.hardware_components.{mux_config["model"]}')
-            ctl = mux_config.update(mux_config.pop('ctl', self.ctl))
-            if isinstance(ctl, dict):
+            mux_config.update(mux_config.pop('ctl', self.ctl))
+            if isinstance(ctl, dict): ### TODO: is this needed?
                 mux_ctl_module = importlib.import_module(f'ohmpi.hardware_components.{mux_config["ctl"]["model"]}')
                 ctl = mux_ctl_module.Ctl(**self.ctl)
             assert issubclass(type(mux_config['ctl']), CtlAbstract)