diff --git a/hedis.cabal b/hedis.cabal
--- a/hedis.cabal
+++ b/hedis.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:               hedis
-version:            0.9.3
+version:            0.9.4
 synopsis:
     Client library for the Redis datastore: supports full command set,
     pipelining.
diff --git a/src/Database/Redis.hs b/src/Database/Redis.hs
--- a/src/Database/Redis.hs
+++ b/src/Database/Redis.hs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     --
     -- @
     -- -- connects to localhost:6379
-    -- conn <- 'connect' 'defaultConnectInfo'
+    -- conn <- 'checkedConnect' 'defaultConnectInfo'
     -- @
     --
     -- Send commands to the server:
@@ -122,6 +122,14 @@
     --    functions throw a 'ConnectionLostException'. It can only be caught
     --    outside of 'runRedis'.
     --
+    --  [Trying to connect to an unreachable server:] When trying to connect to
+    --    a server that does not exist or can't be reached, the connection pool
+    --    only starts the first connection when actually executing a call to
+    --    the server. This can lead to discovering very late that the server is
+    --    not available, for example when running a server that logs to Redis.
+    --    To prevent this, run a 'ping' command directly after connecting or
+    --    use the 'checkedConnect' function which encapsulates this behavior.
+    --
     --  [Exceptions:] Any exceptions can only be caught /outside/ of 'runRedis'.
     --    This way the connection pool can properly close the connection, making
     --    sure it is not left in an unusable state, e.g. closed or inside a
@@ -134,7 +142,7 @@
     RedisCtx(), MonadRedis(..),
 
     -- * Connection
-    Connection, connect,
+    Connection, connect, checkedConnect,
     ConnectInfo(..),defaultConnectInfo,
     HostName,PortID(..),
     
diff --git a/src/Database/Redis/Commands.hs b/src/Database/Redis/Commands.hs
--- a/src/Database/Redis/Commands.hs
+++ b/src/Database/Redis/Commands.hs
@@ -537,11 +537,6 @@
     -> m (f Integer)
 sinterstore destination key = sendRequest (["SINTERSTORE"] ++ [encode destination] ++ map encode key )
 
-ping
-    :: (RedisCtx m f)
-    => m (f Status)
-ping  = sendRequest (["PING"] )
-
 hvals
     :: (RedisCtx m f)
     => ByteString -- ^ key
diff --git a/src/Database/Redis/Core.hs b/src/Database/Redis/Core.hs
--- a/src/Database/Redis/Core.hs
+++ b/src/Database/Redis/Core.hs
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
     MultiParamTypeClasses, FunctionalDependencies, FlexibleInstances, CPP #-}
 
 module Database.Redis.Core (
-    Connection(..), connect,
+    Connection(..), connect, checkedConnect,
     ConnectInfo(..), defaultConnectInfo,
     Redis(), runRedis, unRedis, reRedis,
     RedisCtx(..), MonadRedis(..),
     send, recv, sendRequest,
-    auth, select
+    auth, select, ping
 ) where
 
 import Prelude
@@ -189,8 +189,9 @@
     , connectMaxIdleTime    = 30
     }
 
--- |Opens a 'Connection' to a Redis server designated by the given
---  'ConnectInfo'.
+-- |Constructs a 'Connection' pool to a Redis server designated by the 
+--  given 'ConnectInfo'. The first connection is not actually established
+--  until the first call to the server.
 connect :: ConnectInfo -> IO Connection
 connect ConnInfo{..} = Conn <$>
     createPool create destroy 1 connectMaxIdleTime connectMaxConnections
@@ -208,6 +209,16 @@
 
     destroy = PP.disconnect
 
+-- |Constructs a 'Connection' pool to a Redis server designated by the
+--  given 'ConnectInfo', then tests if the server is actually there. 
+--  Throws an exception if the connection to the Redis server can't be
+--  established.
+checkedConnect :: ConnectInfo -> IO Connection
+checkedConnect connInfo = do
+    conn <- connect connInfo
+    runRedis conn $ void ping
+    return conn
+
 -- The AUTH command. It has to be here because it is used in 'connect'.
 auth
     :: B.ByteString -- ^ password
@@ -220,3 +231,9 @@
     => Integer -- ^ index
     -> m (f Status)
 select ix = sendRequest ["SELECT", encode ix]
+
+-- The PING command. Used in 'checkedConnect'.
+ping
+    :: (RedisCtx m f)
+    => m (f Status)
+ping  = sendRequest (["PING"] )