diff --git a/lcviz/helper.py b/lcviz/helper.py
index 79f9c25a..e2e19727 100644
--- a/lcviz/helper.py
+++ b/lcviz/helper.py
@@ -57,6 +57,23 @@ def _link_new_data(app, reference_data=None, data_to_be_linked=None):
     return
 
 
+def _get_display_unit(app, axis):
+    if app._jdaviz_helper is None or app._jdaviz_helper.plugins.get('Unit Conversion') is None:  # noqa
+        # fallback on native units (unit conversion is not enabled)
+        if axis == 'time':
+            return u.dimensionless_unscaled
+        elif axis == 'flux':
+            return app._jdaviz_helper.default_time_viewer._obj.data()[0].flux.unit
+        else:
+            raise ValueError(f"could not find units for axis='{axis}'")
+    try:
+        # TODO: need to implement and add unit conversion plugin for this to be able to work
+        return getattr(app._jdaviz_helper.plugins.get('Unit Conversion')._obj,
+                       f'{axis}_unit_selected')
+    except AttributeError:
+        raise ValueError(f"could not find display unit for axis='{axis}'")
+
+
 class LCviz(ConfigHelper):
     _default_configuration = {
         'settings': {'configuration': 'lcviz',
@@ -92,6 +109,10 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
             lambda *args, **kwargs: _link_new_data(self.app, *args, **kwargs)
         )
 
+        self.app._get_display_unit = (
+            lambda *args, **kwargs: _get_display_unit(self.app, *args, **kwargs)
+        )
+
         # inject custom css from lcviz_style.vue (on top of jdaviz styles)
         self.app._add_style((__file__, 'lcviz_style.vue'))
 
diff --git a/lcviz/plugins/time_selector/time_selector.py b/lcviz/plugins/time_selector/time_selector.py
index da1f40d8..76acaee5 100644
--- a/lcviz/plugins/time_selector/time_selector.py
+++ b/lcviz/plugins/time_selector/time_selector.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
                                    handler=self._on_ephemeris_changed)
 
     @property
-    def slice_axis(self):
+    def slice_display_unit_name(self):
         # global display unit "axis" corresponding to the slice axis
         return 'time'
 
diff --git a/lcviz/viewers.py b/lcviz/viewers.py
index 642e9201..a2e79103 100644
--- a/lcviz/viewers.py
+++ b/lcviz/viewers.py
@@ -103,6 +103,10 @@ def slice_component_label(self):
         # calling data_collection_item.get_component(slice_component_label) must work
         return 'dt'
 
+    @property
+    def slice_display_unit_name(self):
+        return 'time'
+
     def data(self, cls=None):
         data = []
 
@@ -334,6 +338,10 @@ def slice_index(self):
         # index in viewer.slices corresponding to the slice axis
         return 0
 
+    @property
+    def slice_display_unit_name(self):
+        return 'time'
+
     def _initial_x_axis(self, *args):
         # Make sure that the x_att/y_att is correct on data load
         # called via a callback set upstream in CubevizImageView when reference_data is changed