diff --git a/cake/libs/view/helpers/session.php b/cake/libs/view/helpers/session.php
index 3ae83ca336f..69513870de1 100644
--- a/cake/libs/view/helpers/session.php
+++ b/cake/libs/view/helpers/session.php
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ class SessionHelper extends CakeSession {
 	function __construct($base = null) {
 		if (Configure::read('Session.start') === true) {
 			parent::__construct($base, false);
+			$this->start();
+			$this->__active = true;
 		} else {
 			$this->__active = false;
 		}
@@ -180,11 +182,11 @@ function write() {
  *
  * @return boolean true if Session is already started, false if
  * Session could not be started
- * @access public
+ * @access private
  */
 	function __start() {
-		if (!parent::started()) {
-			parent::start();
+		if (!$this->started()) {
+			return $this->start();
 		}
 		return true;
 	}