diff --git a/piker/ui/_chart.py b/piker/ui/_chart.py
index e2fcc9ec..a9350d97 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_chart.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_chart.py
@@ -995,9 +995,6 @@ class ChartPlotWidget(pg.PlotWidget):
 
         # TODO: this probably needs its own method?
         if overlay:
-            # anchor_at = ('bottom', 'left')
-            self._flows[name] = Flow(name=name, plot=pi)
-
             if isinstance(overlay, pg.PlotItem):
                 if overlay not in self.pi_overlay.overlays:
                     raise RuntimeError(
@@ -1005,6 +1002,9 @@ class ChartPlotWidget(pg.PlotWidget):
                         )
                 pi = overlay
 
+            # anchor_at = ('bottom', 'left')
+            self._flows[name] = Flow(name=name, plot=pi)
+
         else:
             # anchor_at = ('top', 'left')