diff --git a/gateway/db/cache.go b/gateway/db/cache.go
index a966b52d..93b433d4 100644
--- a/gateway/db/cache.go
+++ b/gateway/db/cache.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package db 
 
 import (
+    "context"
+    "log"
     "os"
     "sync"
 
@@ -19,9 +21,22 @@ func getClient() *redis.Client {
         // TODO figure out which redis instance to connect to
         client = redis.NewClient(&redis.Options{
             Addr: os.Getenv("REDIS_ADDR"),
+            Username: os.Getenv("REDIS_USER"),
             Password: os.Getenv("REDIS_PASSWORD"),
             DB: 0,
         })
+        log.Println("redis client:", client)
     })
     return client
 }
+
+func healthcheck() {
+    client := getClient()
+    ctx := context.Background()
+    status, err := client.Ping(ctx).Result()
+    if err != nil {
+        log.Println("Error in redis connection", err)
+    } else {
+        log.Println("redis:", status)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/gateway/db/sync.go b/gateway/db/sync.go
index cbf33175..80f89ce6 100644
--- a/gateway/db/sync.go
+++ b/gateway/db/sync.go
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ func ConnectSync() *Sync {
     listener := pq.NewListener(connStr, 10*time.Second, 2*time.Minute, sync.eventListener)
     sync.listener = listener
 
+    // Check redis
+    healthcheck()
+
     return sync
 }