A processing system configured for capacitive sensing comprises transmitter circuitry, a first internal diagnostic mechanism, and a determination module. The transmitter circuitry is coupled with a first transmitter path of a plurality of transmitter paths and configured to transmit a first transmitter signal with the first transmitter path, wherein each transmitter path of the plurality of transmitter paths is configured for capacitive sensing. The first internal diagnostic mechanism is coupled to a second transmitter path of the plurality of transmitter paths. The first internal diagnostic mechanism is configured to acquire a first resulting signal while the transmitter circuitry transmits the first transmitter signal with the first transmitter path, wherein the first internal diagnostic mechanism comprises a selectable leakage path coupled to the transmitter circuitry. The determination module is further configured to determine that the first transmitter path is ohmically coupled to the second transmitter path of the plurality of transmitter paths based upon the first resulting signal.