diff --git a/piker/ui/_interaction.py b/piker/ui/_interaction.py
index 9c407f3c..ac87e799 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_interaction.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_interaction.py
@@ -467,6 +467,9 @@ class ChartView(ViewBox):
         - zoom on right-click-n-drag to cursor position
 
     """
+
+    mode_name: str = 'mode: view'
+
     def __init__(
         self,
         parent: pg.PlotItem = None,