diff --git a/container-images/gerrit-replica/tools/start b/container-images/gerrit-replica/tools/start
index 5433086..ad7788f 100755
--- a/container-images/gerrit-replica/tools/start
+++ b/container-images/gerrit-replica/tools/start
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@
 # from secrets/configmaps in Kubernetes make the containing directory read-only.
 symlink_config_to_site
 
+IS_REPLICA=$(git config -f /var/gerrit/etc/gerrit.config --get container.replica)
+if [[ ! "$IS_REPLICA" == "true" ]]; then
+  echo "`container.replica` in `gerrit.config` has to be `true`"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 # workaround gerrit.sh does not start httpd
 JAVA_OPTIONS=$(git config --file /var/gerrit/etc/gerrit.config --get-all container.javaOptions)
 java ${JAVA_OPTIONS} -jar /var/gerrit/bin/gerrit.war daemon \