diff --git a/tools/setup/postgres-init-dev-db b/tools/setup/postgres-init-dev-db
index ddc0eba964..1388041884 100755
--- a/tools/setup/postgres-init-dev-db
+++ b/tools/setup/postgres-init-dev-db
@@ -39,6 +39,15 @@ fi
 
 DBNAME_BASE=${DBNAME}_base
 
+if ! pg_isready -U "$DEFAULT_USER" -q; then
+    set +x
+    echo
+    echo 'ERROR: PostgreSQL Server is not running! Ensure the service is enabled.'
+    echo 'ERROR: Try `sudo service postgresql start`?'
+    echo "ERROR: You can easily test if you fixed it using: pg_isready -U \$DEFAULT_USER"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 $ROOT_POSTGRES "$DEFAULT_DB" << EOF
 CREATE USER $USERNAME;
 ALTER USER $USERNAME PASSWORD '$PASSWORD';