diff --git a/lib/flapjack/processor.rb b/lib/flapjack/processor.rb
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100755
--- a/lib/flapjack/processor.rb
+++ b/lib/flapjack/processor.rb
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ module Flapjack
 
         redis_version = Flapjack.redis.info['redis_version']
         required_version = '2.6.12'
-        raise "Redis too old - Flapjack requires #{required_version} but #{redis_version} is running" if Gem::Version.new(redis_version) < Gem::Version.new(required_version)
+        raise "Redis too old - Flapjack requires #{required_version} but #{redis_version} is running" if redis_version && Gem::Version.new(redis_version) < Gem::Version.new(required_version)
 
         # FIXME: add an administrative function to reset all event counters
Only exit if we were able to detect redis' current version