diff --git a/pylabrobot/liquid_handling/backends/hamilton/STAR_backend.py b/pylabrobot/liquid_handling/backends/hamilton/STAR_backend.py
index 5fff3f594ba..7f045918a1a 100644
--- a/pylabrobot/liquid_handling/backends/hamilton/STAR_backend.py
+++ b/pylabrobot/liquid_handling/backends/hamilton/STAR_backend.py
@@ -6403,6 +6403,19 @@ async def position_components_for_free_iswap_y_range(self):
 
     return await self.send_command(module="C0", command="FY")
 
+  async def request_y_pos_iswap_channel(self):
+    """Query the current Y-axis position of the iSWAP channel."""
+
+    y_pos_query_increments = await self.send_command(
+      module="R0",
+      command="RY",
+      fmt="ry######",
+    )
+
+    y_pos_query_mm = self.y_drive_increment_to_mm(y_pos_query_increments["ry"])
+
+    return round(y_pos_query_mm, 1)
+
   async def move_iswap_x_relative(self, step_size: float, allow_splitting: bool = False):
     """
     Args: