diff --git a/protocol-designer/src/pages/CreateNewProtocolWizard/SelectModules.tsx b/protocol-designer/src/pages/CreateNewProtocolWizard/SelectModules.tsx
index dfd05979524..568859d205d 100644
--- a/protocol-designer/src/pages/CreateNewProtocolWizard/SelectModules.tsx
+++ b/protocol-designer/src/pages/CreateNewProtocolWizard/SelectModules.tsx
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
   WRAP,
 } from '@opentrons/components'
 import {
+  ABSORBANCE_READER_TYPE,
   ABSORBANCE_READER_V1,
   FLEX_ROBOT_TYPE,
   getModuleDisplayName,
@@ -70,6 +71,7 @@ export function SelectModules(props: WizardTileProps): JSX.Element | null {
     TEMPERATURE_MODULE_TYPE,
     HEATERSHAKER_MODULE_TYPE,
     MAGNETIC_BLOCK_TYPE,
+    ABSORBANCE_READER_TYPE,
   ]
 
   const handleAddModule = (
diff --git a/protocol-designer/src/pages/Designer/DeckSetup/DeckSetupTools.tsx b/protocol-designer/src/pages/Designer/DeckSetup/DeckSetupTools.tsx
index 4c41a8f8464..2f29fbd416c 100644
--- a/protocol-designer/src/pages/Designer/DeckSetup/DeckSetupTools.tsx
+++ b/protocol-designer/src/pages/Designer/DeckSetup/DeckSetupTools.tsx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
   TYPOGRAPHY,
 } from '@opentrons/components'
 import {
+  ABSORBANCE_READER_TYPE,
   ABSORBANCE_READER_V1,
   FLEX_ROBOT_TYPE,
   FLEX_STAGING_AREA_SLOT_ADDRESSABLE_AREAS,
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ import {
   deleteDeckFixture,
 } from '../../../step-forms/actions/additionalItems'
 import { createModule, deleteModule } from '../../../step-forms/actions'
+import { getAdditionalEquipment } from '../../../step-forms/selectors'
 import { getDeckSetupForActiveItem } from '../../../top-selectors/labware-locations'
 import {
   createContainer,
@@ -110,6 +112,10 @@ export function DeckSetupTools(props: DeckSetupToolsProps): JSX.Element | null {
   const [changeModuleWarningInfo, displayModuleWarning] = useState<boolean>(
     false
   )
+  const additionalEquipment = useSelector(getAdditionalEquipment)
+  const isGripperAttached = Object.values(additionalEquipment).some(
+    equipment => equipment?.name === 'gripper'
+  )
   const [selectedHardware, setSelectedHardware] = useState<
     ModuleModel | Fixture | null
   >(null)
@@ -320,13 +326,20 @@ export function DeckSetupTools(props: DeckSetupToolsProps): JSX.Element | null {
     }
     if (selectedModuleModel != null) {
       //  create module
-      dispatch(
-        createModule({
-          slot,
-          type: getModuleType(selectedModuleModel),
-          model: selectedModuleModel,
-        })
-      )
+      const moduleType = getModuleType(selectedModuleModel)
+      // enforce gripper present in order to add plate reader
+      if (moduleType === ABSORBANCE_READER_TYPE && !isGripperAttached) {
+        makeSnackbar('Gripper required to add absorbance reader')
+        return
+      } else {
+        dispatch(
+          createModule({
+            slot,
+            type: moduleType,
+            model: selectedModuleModel,
+          })
+        )
+      }
     }
     if (
       (slot === 'offDeck' && selectedLabwareDefUri != null) ||
diff --git a/protocol-designer/src/pages/Designer/DeckSetup/__tests__/DeckSetupTools.test.tsx b/protocol-designer/src/pages/Designer/DeckSetup/__tests__/DeckSetupTools.test.tsx
index 5eab480710e..6a0c7d03c87 100644
--- a/protocol-designer/src/pages/Designer/DeckSetup/__tests__/DeckSetupTools.test.tsx
+++ b/protocol-designer/src/pages/Designer/DeckSetup/__tests__/DeckSetupTools.test.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach, afterEach } from 'vitest'
 import '@testing-library/jest-dom/vitest'
 import { fireEvent, screen } from '@testing-library/react'
 import {
+  ABSORBANCE_READER_V1,
   FLEX_ROBOT_TYPE,
   HEATERSHAKER_MODULE_V1,
   fixture96Plate,
@@ -9,7 +10,9 @@ import {
 import { i18n } from '../../../../assets/localization'
 import { renderWithProviders } from '../../../../__testing-utils__'
 import { deleteContainer } from '../../../../labware-ingred/actions'
+import { useKitchen } from '../../../../organisms/Kitchen/hooks'
 import { deleteModule } from '../../../../step-forms/actions'
+import { getAdditionalEquipment } from '../../../../step-forms/selectors'
 import { getRobotType } from '../../../../file-data/selectors'
 import { getEnableAbsorbanceReader } from '../../../../feature-flags/selectors'
 import { deleteDeckFixture } from '../../../../step-forms/actions/additionalItems'
@@ -31,12 +34,16 @@ vi.mock('../../../../step-forms/actions')
 vi.mock('../../../../step-forms/actions/additionalItems')
 vi.mock('../../../../labware-ingred/selectors')
 vi.mock('../../../../tutorial/selectors')
+vi.mock('../../../../step-forms/selectors')
+vi.mock('../../../../organisms/Kitchen/hooks')
 const render = (props: React.ComponentProps<typeof DeckSetupTools>) => {
   return renderWithProviders(<DeckSetupTools {...props} />, {
     i18nInstance: i18n,
   })[0]
 }
 
+const mockMakeSnackbar = vi.fn()
+
 describe('DeckSetupTools', () => {
   let props: React.ComponentProps<typeof DeckSetupTools>
 
@@ -66,6 +73,12 @@ describe('DeckSetupTools', () => {
       pipettes: {},
     })
     vi.mocked(getDismissedHints).mockReturnValue([])
+    vi.mocked(getAdditionalEquipment).mockReturnValue({})
+    vi.mocked(useKitchen).mockReturnValue({
+      makeSnackbar: mockMakeSnackbar,
+      bakeToast: vi.fn(),
+      eatToast: vi.fn(),
+    })
   })
   afterEach(() => {
     vi.resetAllMocks()
@@ -164,4 +177,32 @@ describe('DeckSetupTools', () => {
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByText('Done'))
     expect(props.onCloseClick).toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
+  it('should save plate reader if gripper configured', () => {
+    vi.mocked(getAdditionalEquipment).mockReturnValue({
+      gripperUri: { name: 'gripper', id: 'gripperId' },
+    })
+    vi.mocked(selectors.getZoomedInSlotInfo).mockReturnValue({
+      selectedLabwareDefUri: null,
+      selectedNestedLabwareDefUri: null,
+      selectedFixture: null,
+      selectedModuleModel: ABSORBANCE_READER_V1,
+      selectedSlot: { slot: 'D3', cutout: 'cutoutD3' },
+    })
+    render(props)
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByText('Done'))
+    expect(props.onCloseClick).toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+  it('should prevent saving plate reader and make toast if gripper not configured', () => {
+    vi.mocked(selectors.getZoomedInSlotInfo).mockReturnValue({
+      selectedLabwareDefUri: null,
+      selectedNestedLabwareDefUri: null,
+      selectedFixture: null,
+      selectedModuleModel: ABSORBANCE_READER_V1,
+      selectedSlot: { slot: 'D3', cutout: 'cutoutD3' },
+    })
+    render(props)
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByText('Done'))
+    expect(props.onCloseClick).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(mockMakeSnackbar).toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
 })