diff --git a/src/mx_bluesky/hyperion/baton_handler.py b/src/mx_bluesky/hyperion/baton_handler.py
index 2014929df..4d393461c 100644
--- a/src/mx_bluesky/hyperion/baton_handler.py
+++ b/src/mx_bluesky/hyperion/baton_handler.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 from bluesky.utils import MsgGenerator, RunEngineInterrupted
 from dodal.common.beamlines.commissioning_mode import set_commissioning_signal
 from dodal.devices.baton import Baton
+from dodal.devices.synchrotron import Synchrotron
 
 from mx_bluesky.common.external_interaction.alerting import (
     AlertService,
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@
 
 HYPERION_USER = "Hyperion"
 NO_USER = "None"
+COUNTDOWN_THRESHOLD_SECONDS = 600
 
 
 def run_forever(runner: PlanRunner):
@@ -85,6 +87,7 @@ def collect() -> MsgGenerator:
             baton: The baton device
             runner: The runner
         """
+
         _raise_udc_start_alert(get_alerting_service())
         yield from bpp.contingency_wrapper(
             runner.decode_and_execute(
@@ -103,6 +106,9 @@ def collect() -> MsgGenerator:
         baton = _get_baton(context)
         current_visit: str | None = None
         while (yield from _is_requesting_baton(baton)):
+            abort = yield from _abort_if_countdown_too_low(context, baton)
+            if abort:
+                return
             current_visit = yield from _fetch_and_process_agamemnon_instruction(
                 baton, runner, current_visit
             )
@@ -180,9 +186,7 @@ def _fetch_and_process_agamemnon_instruction(
             current_visit, parameter_list
         )
     else:
-        _raise_udc_completed_alert(get_alerting_service())
-        # Release the baton for orderly exit from the instruction loop
-        yield from _unrequest_baton(baton)
+        yield from _release_baton_on_completed_alert(baton)
     return current_visit
 
 
@@ -218,6 +222,10 @@ def _get_baton(context: BlueskyContext) -> Baton:
     return find_device_in_context(context, "baton", Baton)
 
 
+def _get_synchrotron(context: BlueskyContext) -> Synchrotron:
+    return find_device_in_context(context, "synchrotron", Synchrotron)
+
+
 def _unrequest_baton(baton: Baton) -> MsgGenerator[str]:
     """Relinquish the requested user of the baton if it is not already requested
     by another user.
@@ -231,3 +239,24 @@ def _unrequest_baton(baton: Baton) -> MsgGenerator[str]:
         yield from bps.abs_set(baton.requested_user, NO_USER)
         return NO_USER
     return requested_user
+
+
+def _abort_if_countdown_too_low(
+    context: BlueskyContext, baton: Baton
+) -> MsgGenerator[bool]:
+    synchrotron = _get_synchrotron(context)
+    countdown = yield from bps.rd(synchrotron.machine_user_countdown)
+
+    LOGGER.info(f"Synchrotron beam countdown is {countdown} seconds")
+
+    if countdown < COUNTDOWN_THRESHOLD_SECONDS:
+        LOGGER.info("Synchrotron machine countdown too low")
+        yield from _release_baton_on_completed_alert(baton)
+        return True
+
+    return False
+
+
+def _release_baton_on_completed_alert(baton) -> MsgGenerator:
+    _raise_udc_completed_alert(get_alerting_service())
+    yield from _unrequest_baton(baton)
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/hyperion/test_baton_handler.py b/tests/unit_tests/hyperion/test_baton_handler.py
index 31520ea77..5d2d3d557 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/hyperion/test_baton_handler.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/hyperion/test_baton_handler.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 from bluesky.simulators import RunEngineSimulator, assert_message_and_return_remaining
 from dodal.devices.baton import Baton
 from dodal.devices.detector.detector_motion import DetectorMotion
+from dodal.devices.synchrotron import Synchrotron
 from dodal.utils import get_beamline_based_on_environment_variable
 from ophyd_async.core import get_mock_put, set_mock_value
 
@@ -110,6 +111,7 @@ def bluesky_context(
     lower_gonio,
     baton,
     detector_motion,
+    synchrotron,
     use_beamline_t01,
 ):
     # Baton for real run engine
@@ -125,24 +127,26 @@ def mock_load_module(module, **kwargs):
             lower_gonio,
             baton,
             detector_motion,
+            synchrotron,
         ]
         for device in devices:
             context.register_device(device)
         return {d.name: d for d in devices}, {}
 
-    context.with_device_manager(
-        get_beamline_based_on_environment_variable().devices,
-        mock=True,
-    )
-
-    baton_with_requested_user(context, HYPERION_USER)
     with patch.object(context, "with_device_manager", mock_load_module):
+        context.with_device_manager(
+            get_beamline_based_on_environment_variable().devices,
+            mock=True,
+        )
+        synchrotron_with_countdown(context)
+        baton_with_requested_user(context, HYPERION_USER)
         yield context
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def bluesky_context_with_sim_run_engine(sim_run_engine: RunEngineSimulator):
     baton_requested_user = HYPERION_USER
+    countdown = 1200
 
     # Baton for sim run engine
     def get_requested_user(msg):
@@ -153,12 +157,20 @@ def set_requested_user(msg):
         nonlocal baton_requested_user
         baton_requested_user = msg.args[0]
 
+    def machine_user_countdown_read(msg):
+        return {msg.obj.name: {"value": countdown}}
+
     sim_run_engine.add_handler("locate", get_requested_user, "baton-requested_user")
     sim_run_engine.add_handler(
         "set",
         set_requested_user,  # type: ignore
         "baton-requested_user",
     )
+    sim_run_engine.add_handler(
+        "read",
+        machine_user_countdown_read,
+        "synchrotron-machine_user_countdown",
+    )
 
     msgs = []
 
@@ -224,6 +236,14 @@ def baton_with_requested_user(
     return baton
 
 
+def synchrotron_with_countdown(
+    bluesky_context: BlueskyContext, seconds: int = 1200
+) -> Synchrotron:
+    synchrotron = find_device_in_context(bluesky_context, "synchrotron", Synchrotron)
+    set_mock_value(synchrotron.machine_user_countdown, seconds)
+    return synchrotron
+
+
 @pytest.fixture()
 def udc_runner(bluesky_context: BlueskyContext) -> PlanRunner:
     runner = InProcessRunner(bluesky_context, True)
@@ -1032,3 +1052,18 @@ def test_hyperion_doesnt_exit_if_udc_default_state_fails_a_check(
     mock_move_to_udc_default_state.assert_called_once()
     assert get_mock_put(baton.requested_user).mock_calls[-1] == call(NO_USER, wait=True)
     assert get_mock_put(baton.current_user).mock_calls[-1] == call(NO_USER, wait=True)
+
+
+def test_baton_handler_fails_if_synchrotron_machine_countdown_below_threshold(
+    bluesky_context: BlueskyContext,
+    udc_runner: PlanRunner,
+    dont_patch_clear_devices,
+    caplog,
+):
+    synchrotron = find_device_in_context(bluesky_context, "synchrotron", Synchrotron)
+    set_mock_value(synchrotron.machine_user_countdown, 5)
+
+    with caplog.at_level("INFO"):
+        run_udc_when_requested(bluesky_context, udc_runner)
+
+    assert "Synchrotron machine countdown too low" in caplog.text
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/hyperion/test_main_system.py b/tests/unit_tests/hyperion/test_main_system.py
index 1a9988622..82fed037a 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/hyperion/test_main_system.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/hyperion/test_main_system.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 from blueapi.core import BlueskyContext
 from dodal.devices.attenuator.attenuator import BinaryFilterAttenuator
 from dodal.devices.baton import Baton
+from dodal.devices.synchrotron import Synchrotron
 from dodal.devices.zebra.zebra import Zebra
 from flask.testing import FlaskClient
 from ophyd_async.core import set_mock_value
@@ -766,7 +767,9 @@ def wait_for_udc_to_start_then_send_sigterm():
         plan_runner = mock_create_udc_server.mock_calls[0].args[0]
         context = plan_runner.context
         baton = find_device_in_context(context, "baton", Baton)
+        synchrotron = find_device_in_context(context, "synchrotron", Synchrotron)
         set_mock_value(baton.requested_user, HYPERION_USER)
+        set_mock_value(synchrotron.machine_user_countdown, 1200)
         while len(mock_create_parameters_from_agamemnon.mock_calls) == 0:
             sleep(0.2)
         os.kill(os.getpid(), signal.SIGTERM)
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/t01.py b/tests/unit_tests/t01.py
index 875dae44f..45e2e122a 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/t01.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/t01.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 from dodal.device_manager import DeviceManager
 from dodal.devices.baton import Baton
+from dodal.devices.synchrotron import Synchrotron
 from dodal.devices.xbpm_feedback import XBPMFeedback
 from dodal.utils import BeamlinePrefix, get_beamline_name
 
@@ -25,6 +26,14 @@ def baton() -> Baton:
     return Baton(f"{PREFIX.beamline_prefix}-CS-BATON-01:")
 
 
+@devices.factory()
+def synchrotron() -> Synchrotron:
+    """Get the i03 Synchrotron device, instantiate it if it hasn't already been.
+    If this is called when already instantiated in i03, it will return the existing object.
+    """
+    return Synchrotron()
+
+
 @devices.factory()
 def xbpm_feedback() -> XBPMFeedback:
     """Get the i03 XBPM feeback device, instantiate it if it hasn't already been.