diff --git a/lib/cluster/master_dispatch.js b/lib/cluster/master_dispatch.js
index 69b410d9..bdbe3185 100644
--- a/lib/cluster/master_dispatch.js
+++ b/lib/cluster/master_dispatch.js
@@ -55,6 +55,12 @@
       }
     }
 
+  , broadcast: function (msg) {
+      var self = this;
+      Object.keys(this.workers.items).forEach(function (workerId) {
+        self.workers.items[workerId].worker.send(msg);
+      });
+    }
   };
 
   module.exports = dispatch;
diff --git a/lib/sessions/stores/level.js b/lib/sessions/stores/level.js
index bcb63d01..7d85ddab 100644
--- a/lib/sessions/stores/level.js
+++ b/lib/sessions/stores/level.js
@@ -67,25 +67,10 @@ Level.prototype = new (function () {
   this.setup = function (callback) {
     var con;
     var sessionsPath = path.join(process.cwd(), 'sessions');
-    var lockfile = path.join(sessionsPath, geddy.config.sessions.key, 'LOCK');
-
-    var locked = false;
-    var fh;
-
-    if (fs.existsSync(lockfile)) {
-      try {
-        fh = fs.openSync(lockfile, 'w');
-      } catch (e) {
-        locked = true;
-      }
-
-      if (fh) {
-        fs.closeSync(fh);
-      }
-    }
+    var isMaster = geddy.config.workerNumber === 1;
 
     // master cluster creates level db, while workers connect to it
-    if (!locked) {
+    if (isMaster) {
       // create level db
       if (!fs.existsSync(sessionsPath)) {
         file.mkdirP(sessionsPath);
@@ -103,13 +88,26 @@ Level.prototype = new (function () {
       // create multilevel server
       net.createServer(function (con) {
         con.pipe(multilevel.server(_db)).pipe(con);
-      }).listen(geddy.config.sessions.port);
-      geddy.log.info('Sessions DB listening on port ' + geddy.config.sessions.port);
+      }).listen(geddy.config.sessions.port, function () {
+        geddy.log.info('Sessions DB server listening on port ' + geddy.config.sessions.port);
+        // inform all clients that server is ready
+        geddy.worker.sendMessage({
+          workerId: process.pid,
+          method: 'broadcast',
+          action: 'sessionsServerReady'
+        });
+      });
     }
     else {
-      _db = multilevel.client();
-      var con = net.connect(geddy.config.sessions.port);
-      con.pipe(_db.createRpcStream()).pipe(con);
+      // let the server spin up first
+      process.addListener('message', function (data) {
+        if (data && data.method === 'broadcast' && data.action === 'sessionsServerReady') {
+          geddy.log.info('Sessions DB client connecting on port ' + geddy.config.sessions.port);
+          _db = multilevel.client();
+          var con = net.connect(geddy.config.sessions.port);
+          con.pipe(_db.createRpcStream()).pipe(con);
+        }
+      });
     }
 
     callback();