Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for adding an alien or native wavelength optical signal to a fiber optic line. A portion of a spectrum of the fiber optic line corresponding to the optical signal is blocked with a wavelength selective switch (WSS). The portion of the spectrum is gradually unblocked until a power of the optical signal measured after the WSS is equal to a predetermined level. If the power and characteristics of the optical signal after the WSS satisfy one or more criteria, the portion of the spectrum is further unblocked until the power of the optical signal measured at the output is equal to an operational level.