diff --git a/src/kits/app/Application.cpp b/src/kits/app/Application.cpp
index c2219bdd9f..b90dd11e9d 100644
--- a/src/kits/app/Application.cpp
+++ b/src/kits/app/Application.cpp
@@ -635,6 +635,11 @@ void BApplication::InitData(const char* signature, status_t* error)
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	// check whether be_roster is valid
+	if (fInitError == B_OK && !isRegistrar && !_is_valid_roster_mess_(false)) {
+		printf("FATAL: be_roster is not invalid. Is the registrar running?\n");
+		fInitError = B_NO_INIT;
+	}
 	// check whether or not we are pre-registered
 	bool preRegistered = false;
 	app_info appInfo;