diff --git a/vault_init.sh b/vault_init.sh
index 6871481..de38f8a 100755
--- a/vault_init.sh
+++ b/vault_init.sh
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ export VAULT_ADDR="http://${vault_vip}:8200"
 
 vault operator init -key-shares=5 -key-threshold=3 > ${vault_file}
 
+if [[ -z "$(cat ${vault_file})" ]] ; then
+  echo "Vault was not initialised, exiting ..."
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 do_vault
 
 initial_token=$(grep Initial ${vault_file} | awk '{print $4}')