An aerosol-generating system includes a liquid storage for holding a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a first pair of electrodes, a second pair of electrodes and a control system. The liquid storage includes a first portion in fluid communication with a second portion. The first pair of electrodes is adjacent to or in the first portion of the liquid storage. The second pair of electrodes is adjacent to or in the second portion of the liquid storage portion. The control system is configured to measure an electrical quantity between the first pair of electrodes, measure an electrical quantity between the second pair of electrodes, and determine the orientation of the liquid storage portion based on the electrical quantity between the first pair of electrodes and the electrical quantity between the second pair of electrodes.