A magnetic resonance imaging system configured for acquiring imaging k-space data from an imaging zone, wherein the magnetic resonance imaging system comprises: - a magnetic field gradient coil system (110, 112) configured for generating magnetic gradient fields within the imaging zone; - a signaling system configured for providing a warning signal (300, 400) to a subject located at least partially within the imaging zone; - a memory containing machine executable instructions, wherein the memory further contains pulse sequence commands configured for controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system to acquire the imaging k-space data according to a magnetic resonance imaging protocol, wherein the pulse sequence commands comprise gradient coil pulse commands configured for controlling the magnetic field gradient coil system to generate the magnetic gradient fields within the imaging zone, wherein the memory further contains multiple preparatory scan commands for configuring the magnetic resonance imaging system for acquisition of the imaging k-space data; - a processor configured for controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system, characterised in that execution of the machine executable instructions causes the processor to: - sort the multiple preparatory scan commands into fixed duration preparatory scan commands and indeterminate duration preparatory scan commands; - control the magnetic resonance imaging system with the indeterminate duration preparatory scan commands; - control the magnetic resonance imaging system with the fixed duration preparatory scan commands after controlling magnetic resonance imaging system with the indeterminate duration preparatory scan commands; - calculate a gradient pulse starting time which comprises a delay to allow completion of the fixed duration preparatory scan commands and for a begin of the gradient coil pulse commands; - provide the warning signal at a predetermined time before the gradient pulse starting time; and - control the magnetic resonance imaging system with the pulse sequence commands to acquire the k-space data such that the beginning of the execution of the gradient coil pulse commands occurs at the pulse starting time. - a magnetic field gradient coil system (110, 112) configured for generating magnetic gradient fields within the imaging zone; - a signaling system configured for providing a warning signal (300, 400) to a subject located at least partially within the imaging zone; - a memory containing machine executable instructions, wherein the memory further contains pulse sequence commands configured for controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system to acquire the imaging k-space data according to a magnetic resonance imaging protocol, wherein the pulse sequence commands comprise gradient coil pulse commands configured for controlling the magnetic field gradient coil system to generate the magnetic gradient fields within the imaging zone, wherein the memory further contains multiple preparatory scan commands for configuring the magnetic resonance imaging system for acquisition of the imaging k-space data; - a processor configured for controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system, - sort the multiple preparatory scan commands into fixed duration preparatory scan commands and indeterminate duration preparatory scan commands; - control the magnetic resonance imaging system with the indeterminate duration preparatory scan commands; - control the magnetic resonance imaging system with the fixed duration preparatory scan commands after controlling magnetic resonance imaging system with the indeterminate duration preparatory scan commands; - calculate a gradient pulse starting time which comprises a delay to allow completion of the fixed duration preparatory scan commands and for a begin of the gradient coil pulse commands; - provide the warning signal at a predetermined time before the gradient pulse starting time; and - control the magnetic resonance imaging system with the pulse sequence commands to acquire the k-space data such that the beginning of the execution of the gradient coil pulse commands occurs at the pulse starting time.