diff --git a/bin/run_backend.py b/bin/run_backend.py
index 7d363090..9550a91b 100755
--- a/bin/run_backend.py
+++ b/bin/run_backend.py
@@ -33,7 +33,15 @@ def launch_cache(storage_directory: Path | None=None) -> None:
     if not storage_directory:
         storage_directory = get_homedir()
     if not check_running('cache'):
-        Popen(["./run_redis.sh"], cwd=storage_directory / 'cache')
+        process = Popen(["./run_redis.sh"], cwd=(storage_directory / 'cache'))
+        try:
+            # Give time for the process to start (and potentailly fail)
+            process.wait(timeout=5)
+        except TimeoutError:
+            pass
+        process.poll()
+        if process.returncode == 1:
+            raise Exception('Failed to start Redis cache database.')
 
 
 def shutdown_cache() -> None:
diff --git a/bin/start.py b/bin/start.py
index d0ed4307..468d458a 100755
--- a/bin/start.py
+++ b/bin/start.py
@@ -10,7 +10,11 @@ def main() -> None:
     get_homedir()
     print('Start backend (redis)...')
     p = run(['run_backend', '--start'])
-    p.check_returncode()
+    try:
+        p.check_returncode()
+    except Exception:
+        print('Failed to start the backend, exiting.')
+        return
     print('done.')
     print('Start unoserver...')
     Popen(['unoserver_launcher'])
diff --git a/cache/run_redis.sh b/cache/run_redis.sh
index c7e47b52..f9acbc52 100755
--- a/cache/run_redis.sh
+++ b/cache/run_redis.sh
@@ -1,10 +1,25 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
 set -e
-set -x
+# set -x
 
 if [ -f  ../../valkey/src/valkey-server ]; then
+    if [[ ` ../../valkey/src/valkey-server -v` == *"v=7."* ]] ; then
+        echo "You're using valkey 7, please upgrade do valkey 8"
+        exit 1
+    fi
     ../../valkey/src/valkey-server ./cache.conf
-else
+elif [ -f ../../redis/src/redis-server ]; then
+    if [[ ` ../../redis/src/redis-server -v` == *"v=7."* ]] ; then
+        echo "You're using redis 7, please upgrade do valkey 8";
+        exit 1
+    fi
     ../../redis/src/redis-server ./cache.conf
+else
+    if [[ `/usr/bin/redis-server -v` == *"v=7."* ]] ; then
+        echo "You're using redis 7, please upgrade do valkey 8";
+        exit 1
+    fi
+    echo "Warning: using system redis-server. Valkey-server or redis-server from source is recommended." >&2
+    /usr/bin/redis-server ./cache.conf
 fi