diff --git a/src/ophyd_async/epics/adcore/_hdf_writer.py b/src/ophyd_async/epics/adcore/_hdf_writer.py
index c33be0f8f5..fc7d1ca3fe 100644
--- a/src/ophyd_async/epics/adcore/_hdf_writer.py
+++ b/src/ophyd_async/epics/adcore/_hdf_writer.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
     wait_for_value,
 )
 
-from ._core_io import NDArrayBaseIO, NDFileHDFIO
+from ._core_io import Callback, NDArrayBaseIO, NDFileHDFIO
 from ._utils import (
     FileWriteMode,
     convert_param_dtype_to_np,
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ async def open(self, multiplier: int = 1) -> dict[str, DataKey]:
             # Never use custom xml layout file but use the one defined
             # in the source code file NDFileHDF5LayoutXML.cpp
             self.hdf.xml_file_name.set(""),
+            self.hdf.enable_callbacks.set(Callback.ENABLE),
         )
 
         assert (
@@ -80,7 +81,9 @@ async def open(self, multiplier: int = 1) -> dict[str, DataKey]:
         # Overwrite num_capture to go forever
         await self.hdf.num_capture.set(0)
         # Wait for it to start, stashing the status that tells us when it finishes
-        self._capture_status = await set_and_wait_for_value(self.hdf.capture, True)
+        self._capture_status = await set_and_wait_for_value(
+            self.hdf.capture, True, wait_for_set_completion=False
+        )
         name = self._name_provider()
         detector_shape = await self._dataset_describer.shape()
         np_dtype = await self._dataset_describer.np_datatype()