diff --git a/lib/Cake/Model/Datasource/CakeSession.php b/lib/Cake/Model/Datasource/CakeSession.php
index 2afbcc0c3b6..fe601b4d385 100644
--- a/lib/Cake/Model/Datasource/CakeSession.php
+++ b/lib/Cake/Model/Datasource/CakeSession.php
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ public static function start() {
  * @return bool True if session has been started.
  */
 	public static function started() {
-		return (session_status() === PHP_SESSION_ACTIVE);
+		return isset($_SESSION) && session_id();
 	}
 
 /**