diff --git a/lib/ExpressRedisCache.js b/lib/ExpressRedisCache.js
index 9cb05aa..0d9585e 100644
--- a/lib/ExpressRedisCache.js
+++ b/lib/ExpressRedisCache.js
@@ -80,9 +80,10 @@ module.exports = (function () {
 
     /** If client can emit */
 
-    if ( this.client.on ) {
+    if ( this.client && this.client.on ) {
       this.client.on('error', function (error) {
-        this.emit('error', error);
+        this.connected = false;
+        this.emit('message', 'Redis is unavailable or not running');
       }.bind(this));
 
       this.client.on('connect', function () {
diff --git a/test/express.js b/test/express.js
index 3a06750..f9e061a 100644
--- a/test/express.js
+++ b/test/express.js
@@ -226,4 +226,4 @@ describe ( 'test with small express server', function () {
     done();
   });
 
-});
\ No newline at end of file
+});