diff --git a/lib/waterline.js b/lib/waterline.js
index 9882a24c0..4b704c32b 100644
--- a/lib/waterline.js
+++ b/lib/waterline.js
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ var buildDatastoreMap = require('./waterline/utils/system/datastore-builder');
 var buildLiveWLModel = require('./waterline/utils/system/collection-builder');
 var BaseMetaModel = require('./waterline/MetaModel');
 var getModel = require('./waterline/utils/ontology/get-model');
+var validateDatastoreConnectivity = require('./waterline/utils/system/validate-datastore-connectivity');
+
+
 
 
 /**
@@ -711,7 +714,13 @@ function Waterline() {
         });//</ each model identity >
 
         // Call the `registerDatastore` adapter method.
-        datastore.adapter.registerDatastore(datastore.config, usedSchemas, next);
+        datastore.adapter.registerDatastore(datastore.config, usedSchemas, function(err) {
+          if (err) {
+            return next(err);
+          }
+
+          return validateDatastoreConnectivity(datastore, next);
+        });
 
       } catch (err) { return next(err); }
 
diff --git a/lib/waterline/utils/system/validate-datastore-connectivity.js b/lib/waterline/utils/system/validate-datastore-connectivity.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b7cfbed33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/waterline/utils/system/validate-datastore-connectivity.js
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+var _ = require('@sailshq/lodash');
+
+/**
+ * validateDatastoreConnectivity()
+ *
+ * Validates connectivity to a datastore by trying to acquire and release
+ * connection.
+ *
+ * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
+ * @param {Ref} datastore
+ *
+ * @param {Function} done
+ *         @param {Error?} err   [if an error occured]
+ * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
+ */
+
+module.exports = function validateDatastoreConnectivity(datastore, done) {
+  var adapterDSEntry = _.get(datastore.adapter.datastores, datastore.config.identity);
+
+  // skip validation if `getConnection` and `releaseConnection` methods do not exist.
+  // aka pretend everything is OK
+  if (!_.has(adapterDSEntry.driver, 'getConnection') || !_.has(adapterDSEntry.driver, 'releaseConnection')) {
+    return done();
+  }
+
+  // try to acquire connection.
+  adapterDSEntry.driver.getConnection({
+    manager: adapterDSEntry.manager
+  }, function(err, report) {
+    if (err) {
+      return done(err);
+    }
+
+    // release connection.
+    adapterDSEntry.driver.releaseConnection({
+      connection: report.connection
+    }, function(err) {
+      if (err) {
+        return done(err);
+      }
+
+      return done();
+    });//</ releaseConnection() >
+  });//</ getConnection() >
+};