diff --git a/app/helpers/kanbans_helper.rb b/app/helpers/kanbans_helper.rb
index 9dda6f4..6d0409b 100644
--- a/app/helpers/kanbans_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/kanbans_helper.rb
@@ -39,20 +39,6 @@ def updated_note_on_issue?(issue)
     end
   end
 
-  def pane_configured?(pane)
-    (@settings['panes'] && @settings['panes'][pane] && !@settings['panes'][pane]['status'].blank?)
-  end
-
-  def display_pane?(pane)
-    if pane == 'quick-tasks'
-      pane_configured?('backlog') &&
-        @settings['panes']['quick-tasks']['limit'].present? &&
-        @settings['panes']['quick-tasks']['limit'].to_i > 0
-    else
-      pane_configured?(pane)
-    end
-  end
-
   def kanban_issue_css_classes(issue)
     css = 'kanban-issue ' + issue.css_classes
     if User.current.logged? && !issue.assigned_to_id.nil? && issue.assigned_to_id != User.current.id
@@ -77,9 +63,9 @@ def issue_icon_link(issue)
   def column_configured?(column)
     case column
     when :unstaffed
-      pane_configured?('incoming') || pane_configured?('backlog')
+      KanbanPane::IncomingPane.configured? || KanbanPane::BacklogPane.configured?
     when :selected
-      display_pane?('quick-tasks') || pane_configured?('selected')
+      KanbanPane::QuickPane.configured? || KanbanPane::SelectedPane.configured?
     when :staffed
       true # always
     end
@@ -116,17 +102,17 @@ def staffed_column_width(column)
       :finished => 2,
       :canceled => 2
     }
-    return 0.0 if column == :active && !pane_configured?(:active)
-    return 0.0 if column == :testing && !pane_configured?(:testing)
-    return 0.0 if column == :finished && !pane_configured?(:finished)
-    return 0.0 if column == :canceled && !pane_configured?(:canceled)
+    return 0.0 if column == :active && !KanbanPane::ActivePane.configured?
+    return 0.0 if column == :testing && !KanbanPane::TestingPane.configured?
+    return 0.0 if column == :finished && !KanbanPane::FinishedPane.configured?
+    return 0.0 if column == :canceled && !KanbanPane::CanceledPane.configured?
 
     visible = 0
     visible += column_ratios[:user]
-    visible += column_ratios[:active] if pane_configured?(:active)
-    visible += column_ratios[:testing] if pane_configured?(:testing)
-    visible += column_ratios[:finished] if pane_configured?(:finished)
-    visible += column_ratios[:canceled] if pane_configured?(:canceled)
+    visible += column_ratios[:active] if KanbanPane::ActivePane.configured?
+    visible += column_ratios[:testing] if KanbanPane::TestingPane.configured?
+    visible += column_ratios[:finished] if KanbanPane::FinishedPane.configured?
+    visible += column_ratios[:canceled] if KanbanPane::CanceledPane.configured?
     
     return ((column_ratios[column].to_f / visible) * 96).round(2)
   end
diff --git a/app/models/kanban_pane.rb b/app/models/kanban_pane.rb
index f6272c2..d641b20 100644
--- a/app/models/kanban_pane.rb
+++ b/app/models/kanban_pane.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 class KanbanPane
   def settings
+    KanbanPane.settings
+  end
+
+  def self.settings
     Setting.plugin_redmine_kanban
   end
 
@@ -7,6 +11,15 @@ def get_issues(options={})
     nil
   end
 
+  def self.pane_name
+    self.to_s.demodulize.gsub(/pane/i, '').downcase
+  end
+
+  def self.configured?
+    pane = self.pane_name
+    (settings['panes'] && settings['panes'][pane] && !settings['panes'][pane]['status'].blank?)
+  end
+  
   private
 
   def missing_settings(pane, options={})
diff --git a/app/models/kanban_pane/quick_pane.rb b/app/models/kanban_pane/quick_pane.rb
index 6e13d22..5e43a82 100644
--- a/app/models/kanban_pane/quick_pane.rb
+++ b/app/models/kanban_pane/quick_pane.rb
@@ -14,6 +14,18 @@ def get_issues(options={})
 
     return group_by_priority_position(issues)
   end
+
+  def self.pane_name
+    'quick-tasks'
+  end
+
+  # QuickPane uses different configuration logic since it requires the
+  # backlog pane and doesn't have it's own status
+  def self.configured?
+    KanbanPane::BacklogPane.configured? &&
+      settings['panes']['quick-tasks']['limit'].present? &&
+      settings['panes']['quick-tasks']['limit'].to_i > 0
+  end
   
 end
 
diff --git a/app/views/kanbans/_user.html.erb b/app/views/kanbans/_user.html.erb
index 4480b15..6307178 100644
--- a/app/views/kanbans/_user.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/kanbans/_user.html.erb
@@ -4,22 +4,22 @@
       
       <%= call_hook(:view_kanbans_user_name, :user => user) %>
     </div>
-    <% if pane_configured?('active') %>
+    <% if KanbanPane::ActivePane.configured? %>
     <div id="active-<%= h user.id -%>" class="staffed-column pane active user-<%= h user.id -%>" style="width: <%= staffed_column_width(:active) %>%">
       <%= render(:partial => 'active', :locals => {:user => user}) %>
     </div>
     <% end %>
-    <% if pane_configured?('testing') %>
+    <% if KanbanPane::TestingPane.configured? %>
     <div id="testing-<%= h user.id -%>" class="staffed-column pane testing user-<%= h user.id -%>" style="width: <%= staffed_column_width(:testing) %>%">
       <%= render(:partial => 'testing', :locals => {:user => user}) %>
     </div>
     <% end %>
-    <% if pane_configured?('finished') %>
+    <% if KanbanPane::FinishedPane.configured? %>
     <div id="finished-<%= h user.id -%>" class="staffed-column pane finished user-<%= h user.id -%>" style="width: <%= staffed_column_width(:finished) %>%">
       <%= render(:partial => 'finished', :locals => {:user => user}) %>
     </div>
     <% end %>
-    <% if pane_configured?('canceled') %>
+    <% if KanbanPane::CanceledPane.configured? %>
     <div id="canceled-<%= h user.id -%>" class="staffed-column pane canceled user-<%= h user.id -%>" style="width: <%= staffed_column_width(:canceled) %>%">
       <%= render(:partial => 'canceled', :locals => {:user => user}) %>
     </div>
diff --git a/app/views/kanbans/show.html.erb b/app/views/kanbans/show.html.erb
index 4bcb914..ab5fbac 100644
--- a/app/views/kanbans/show.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/kanbans/show.html.erb
@@ -11,28 +11,28 @@
 <p class="general-help"><%= l(:kanban_text_general_help) %></p>
 
 <div id="kanban">
-  <% if pane_configured?('incoming') || pane_configured?('backlog') %>
+  <% if KanbanPane::IncomingPane.configured? || KanbanPane::BacklogPane.configured? %>
   <div id="unstaffed-requests" class="column" style="width: <%= column_width(:unstaffed) %>%">
-    <% if pane_configured?('incoming') %>
+    <% if KanbanPane::IncomingPane.configured? %>
     <div id="incoming" class="pane">
       <%= render :partial => 'incoming' %>
     </div>
     <% end %>
-    <% if pane_configured?('backlog') %>
+    <% if KanbanPane::BacklogPane.configured? %>
     <div id="backlog" class="pane">
       <%= render :partial => 'backlog' %>
     </div>
     <% end %>
   </div>
   <% end %>
-  <% if display_pane?('quick-tasks') || pane_configured?('selected') %>
+  <% if KanbanPane::QuickPane.configured? || KanbanPane::SelectedPane.configured? %>
   <div id="selected-requests" class="column" style="width: <%= column_width(:selected) %>%">
-    <% if display_pane?('quick-tasks') %>
+    <% if KanbanPane::QuickPane.configured? %>
     <div id="quick-tasks" class="pane">
       <%= render :partial => 'quick' %>
     </div>
     <% end %>
-    <% if pane_configured?('selected') %>
+    <% if KanbanPane::SelectedPane.configured? %>
     <div id="selected-tasks"class="pane">
       <%= render :partial => 'selected' %>
     </div>
@@ -42,10 +42,10 @@
   <div id="staffed-requests" class="column" style="width: <%= column_width(:staffed) %>%">
     <div id="staffed-requests-header" class="staff">
       <%= content_tag(:div, content_tag(:h3, l(:kanban_text_user)), :class => "staffed-column user", :style => "width: #{staffed_column_width(:user)}%") %>
-      <%= content_tag(:div, content_tag(:h3, l(:kanban_text_active)), :class => "staffed-column active", :style => "width: #{staffed_column_width(:active)}%") if pane_configured?('active') %>
-      <%= content_tag(:div, content_tag(:h3, l(:kanban_text_testing)), :class => "staffed-column testing", :style => "width: #{staffed_column_width(:testing)}%") if pane_configured?('testing') %>
-      <%= content_tag(:div, content_tag(:h3, l(:kanban_text_finished_requests)), :class => "staffed-column finished", :style => "width: #{staffed_column_width(:finished)}%") if pane_configured?('finished') %>
-      <%= content_tag(:div, content_tag(:h3, l(:kanban_text_canceled_requests)), :class => "staffed-column canceled", :style => "width: #{staffed_column_width(:canceled)}%") if pane_configured?('canceled') %>
+      <%= content_tag(:div, content_tag(:h3, l(:kanban_text_active)), :class => "staffed-column active", :style => "width: #{staffed_column_width(:active)}%") if KanbanPane::ActivePane.configured? %>
+      <%= content_tag(:div, content_tag(:h3, l(:kanban_text_testing)), :class => "staffed-column testing", :style => "width: #{staffed_column_width(:testing)}%") if KanbanPane::TestingPane.configured? %>
+      <%= content_tag(:div, content_tag(:h3, l(:kanban_text_finished_requests)), :class => "staffed-column finished", :style => "width: #{staffed_column_width(:finished)}%") if KanbanPane::FinishedPane.configured? %>
+      <%= content_tag(:div, content_tag(:h3, l(:kanban_text_canceled_requests)), :class => "staffed-column canceled", :style => "width: #{staffed_column_width(:canceled)}%") if KanbanPane::CanceledPane.configured? %>
     </div>
     <div style="clear:both"></div>
 
diff --git a/test/unit/helpers/kanbans_helper_test.rb b/test/unit/helpers/kanbans_helper_test.rb
index 9cdeaaf..24ac809 100644
--- a/test/unit/helpers/kanbans_helper_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/helpers/kanbans_helper_test.rb
@@ -8,12 +8,15 @@ class KanbansHelperTest < HelperTestCase
   
   def setup
     super
+    # Stub KanbanPane#settings so it will bypass the Settings cache.
+    def KanbanPane.settings
+      return Setting['plugin_redmine_kanban']
+    end
   end
 
   def enable_pane(pane)
     new_panes = Setting['plugin_redmine_kanban']['panes'].merge({pane.to_s => {'status' => '1'}})
     reconfigure_plugin(Setting['plugin_redmine_kanban'].merge('panes' => new_panes))
-    @settings = Setting['plugin_redmine_kanban']
   end
 
   context "#column_width" do
@@ -28,9 +31,6 @@ def enable_pane(pane)
                              'finished' => {},
                              'canceled' => {}
                            }})
-
-      @settings = Setting['plugin_redmine_kanban']
-
     end
     
     context "for unstaffed" do
@@ -42,9 +42,9 @@ def enable_pane(pane)
         enable_pane(:incoming)
         enable_pane(:backlog)
 
-        assert pane_configured?('incoming')
-        assert pane_configured?('backlog')
-        assert !pane_configured?('selected')
+        assert KanbanPane::IncomingPane.configured?
+        assert KanbanPane::BacklogPane.configured?
+        assert !KanbanPane::SelectedPane.configured?
 
         assert_equal 19.2, column_width(:unstaffed)
       end
@@ -54,9 +54,9 @@ def enable_pane(pane)
         enable_pane(:backlog)
         enable_pane(:selected)
 
-        assert pane_configured?('incoming')
-        assert pane_configured?('backlog')
-        assert pane_configured?('selected')
+        assert KanbanPane::IncomingPane.configured?
+        assert KanbanPane::BacklogPane.configured?
+        assert KanbanPane::SelectedPane.configured?
 
         assert_equal 16.0, column_width(:unstaffed)
       end
@@ -70,9 +70,9 @@ def enable_pane(pane)
       should "be 19.2 if selected and staffed are enabled" do
         enable_pane(:selected)
 
-        assert !pane_configured?('incoming')
-        assert !pane_configured?('backlog')
-        assert pane_configured?('selected')
+        assert !KanbanPane::IncomingPane.configured?
+        assert !KanbanPane::BacklogPane.configured?
+        assert KanbanPane::SelectedPane.configured?
 
         assert_equal 19.2, column_width(:selected)
       end
@@ -82,9 +82,9 @@ def enable_pane(pane)
         enable_pane(:backlog)
         enable_pane(:selected)
 
-        assert pane_configured?('incoming')
-        assert pane_configured?('backlog')
-        assert pane_configured?('selected')
+        assert KanbanPane::IncomingPane.configured?
+        assert KanbanPane::BacklogPane.configured?
+        assert KanbanPane::SelectedPane.configured?
 
         assert_equal 16.0, column_width(:selected)
       end
@@ -99,8 +99,8 @@ def enable_pane(pane)
         enable_pane(:incoming)
         enable_pane(:backlog)
 
-        assert pane_configured?('incoming')
-        assert pane_configured?('backlog')
+        assert KanbanPane::IncomingPane.configured?
+        assert KanbanPane::BacklogPane.configured?
 
         assert_equal 76.8, column_width(:staffed)
       end
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ def enable_pane(pane)
       should "be 76.8 if selected and staffed are enabled" do
         enable_pane(:selected)
 
-        assert pane_configured?('selected')
+        assert KanbanPane::SelectedPane.configured?
 
         assert_equal 76.8, column_width(:staffed)
       end
@@ -118,9 +118,9 @@ def enable_pane(pane)
         enable_pane(:backlog)
         enable_pane(:selected)
 
-        assert pane_configured?('incoming')
-        assert pane_configured?('backlog')
-        assert pane_configured?('selected')
+        assert KanbanPane::IncomingPane.configured?
+        assert KanbanPane::BacklogPane.configured?
+        assert KanbanPane::SelectedPane.configured?
 
         assert_equal 64.0, column_width(:staffed)
       end