Provided are a photoacoustic apparatus and method of operating the same. The photoacoustic apparatus includes: a laser module that generates laser light and transmits a laser state signal indicating a state of a laser module; a probe including an optical output unit for irradiating laser light generated by the laser module onto an object and a scanner for detecting a photoacoustic signal that is generated from the object; a scanner controller for controlling a position of the scanner; a sequence controller for controlling acquisition of the photoacoustic signal based on the laser state signal; a signal receiver that is controlled by the sequence controller to acquire the photoacoustic signal; and a photoacoustic image generator for generating a photoacoustic image based on the photoacoustic signal. The laser state signal includes a lasing ready state signal and a laser exposure state signal.