diff --git a/src/main/java/com/radiadesign/catalina/session/RedisSessionManager.java b/src/main/java/com/radiadesign/catalina/session/RedisSessionManager.java
index bacad8bd..8c338cd4 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/radiadesign/catalina/session/RedisSessionManager.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/radiadesign/catalina/session/RedisSessionManager.java
@@ -178,15 +178,23 @@ protected synchronized void startInternal() throws LifecycleException {
 
     setState(LifecycleState.STARTING);
 
+    Boolean attachedToValve = false;
     for (Valve valve : getContainer().getPipeline().getValves()) {
       if (valve instanceof RedisSessionHandlerValve) {
         this.handlerValve = (RedisSessionHandlerValve) valve;
         this.handlerValve.setRedisSessionManager(this);
         log.info("Attached to RedisSessionHandlerValve");
+        attachedToValve = true;
         break;
       }
     }
 
+    if (!attachedToValve) {
+      String error = "Unable to attach to session handling valve; sessions cannot be saved after the request without the valve starting properly.";
+      log.fatal(error);
+      throw new LifecycleException(error);
+    }
+
     try {
       initializeSerializer();
     } catch (ClassNotFoundException e) {