diff --git a/behave_utils/docker.py b/behave_utils/docker.py
index 5873d509bcbc74f713280b651107c266b2b572c2..fb71198acb1eec6cd1536a8d085cfd4e39848225 100644
--- a/behave_utils/docker.py
+++ b/behave_utils/docker.py
@@ -343,6 +343,8 @@ class Container(Item):
 		if self.is_running():
 			return
 		docker_quiet(b"container", b"start", self.get_id())
+		assert self.inspect().path('$.State.Status', str) != 'created', \
+			"please report this at https://code.kodo.org.uk/dom/behave-utils/-/issues/11"
 
 	def stop(self, rm: bool = False) -> None:
 		"""