diff --git a/src/events.js b/src/events.js
index 567e14c..3380792 100644
--- a/src/events.js
+++ b/src/events.js
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ export function getCaseParties(casenumber, options) {
         options
       );
 
+  if (!(emitter.listenerCount(`retrieve-parties`))) {
+      logger.warn(`No listener is attached to emitter.retrieve-parties. Did you remember to include a data source?`);
+  }
+
   // emit runs synchronously because I/O is not involved, so result will always be populated
   // before further functions are called.
   emitter.emit(`retrieve-parties`, casenumber, result);
diff --git a/test/events.test.js b/test/events.test.js
index d8f75c2..fbe85f0 100644
--- a/test/events.test.js
+++ b/test/events.test.js
@@ -259,6 +259,13 @@ describe(`events`, () => {
         });
 
         describe(`log4js`, () => {
+            it(`should send something to log4js if no handlers are attached to retrieve-parties`, () => {
+                return testee.getCaseParties(dummyCase).then(() => {
+                    let logged = traceStub.called || debugStub.called || infoStub.called || logStub.called || warnStub.called || errorStub.called || fatalStub.called;
+                    expect(logged).to.equal(true);
+                });                
+            });
+
             it(`should send something to log4js when handling a rejected promise`, () => {
                 emitter.on(`retrieve-parties`, (casenumber, result) => {
                     result.promises.push(Promise.reject(`failed`));