diff --git a/target/bin/fail2ban b/target/bin/fail2ban
index d5f61a16..51286937 100755
--- a/target/bin/fail2ban
+++ b/target/bin/fail2ban
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ source /usr/local/bin/helpers/index.sh
 
 function __usage { echo "Usage: ./setup.sh fail2ban [<ban|unban> <IP>]" ; }
 
+fail2ban-client ping &>/dev/null || _exit_with_error "Fail2ban not running"
+
 unset JAILS
 declare -a JAILS
 IP_REGEXP='((25[0-5]|2[0-4][0-9]|[01]?[0-9][0-9]?)\.){3}(25[0-5]|2[0-4][0-9]|[01]?[0-9][0-9]?)'