A method of operating a laboratory automation system is presented. The laboratory automation system comprises a plurality of laboratory stations and a plurality of sample container carriers. The sample container carriers carry one or more sample containers. The sample containers comprise samples to be analyzed by the laboratory stations. The system also comprises a transport plane. The transport plane supports the sample container carriers. The system also comprises a drive. The drive moves the sample container carriers on the transport plane. The method comprises, during an initialization of the laboratory automation system, logically reserving at least one buffer area on the transport plane and, after the initialization of the laboratory automation system, buffering in the at least one buffer area sample container carriers carrying sample containers comprising samples waiting for a result of an analysis. Depending on the result of the analysis, the samples are further processed.