diff --git a/jdaviz/configs/default/plugins/virtual_observatory/vo_plugin.py b/jdaviz/configs/default/plugins/virtual_observatory/vo_plugin.py
index f356676a4e..e17d539a39 100644
--- a/jdaviz/configs/default/plugins/virtual_observatory/vo_plugin.py
+++ b/jdaviz/configs/default/plugins/virtual_observatory/vo_plugin.py
@@ -153,9 +153,18 @@ def vue_center_on_data(self, event=None):
         if not self.viewer_selected or self.viewer_selected == "Manual":
             return
 
+        # If the user panned but tracking not enabled, don't recenter
+        # NOTE: float event typecheck assumes the only "float" type event triggering this method
+        #   is "zoom_center_x" and "zoom_center_y"
+        #   Otherwise, need some other way to determine the event = user panning
+        if isinstance(event, float) and not self.coord_follow_viewer_pan:
+            # Thus, we're no longer centered
+            self.viewer_centered = False
+            return
+
         self.center_on_data(event)
 
-    def center_on_data(self, event=None):
+    def center_on_data(self, _=None):
         """
         If data is present in the default viewer, center the plugin's coordinates on
         the viewer's center WCS coordinates.
@@ -164,14 +173,6 @@ def center_on_data(self, event=None):
             # mixin object not yet initialized
             return
 
-        # If the user panned but tracking not enabled, don't recenter
-        # NOTE: float event typecheck assumes the only "float" type event triggering this method
-        #   is "zoom_center_x" and "zoom_center_y"
-        #   Otherwise, need some other way to determine the event = user panning
-        if isinstance(event, float) and not self.coord_follow_viewer_pan:
-            # Thus, we're no longer centered
-            self.viewer_centered = False
-            return
 
         # gets the current viewer
         viewer = self.viewer.selected_obj