diff --git a/CHANGES/1550.bugfix b/CHANGES/1550.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f3554617a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGES/1550.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Pulp Container specific settings are now properly validated at startup of a Pulp instance.
diff --git a/pulp_container/app/__init__.py b/pulp_container/app/__init__.py
index 669f62a21..7b6ea5948 100644
--- a/pulp_container/app/__init__.py
+++ b/pulp_container/app/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 from pulpcore.plugin import PulpPluginAppConfig
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured
 
 
 class PulpContainerPluginAppConfig(PulpPluginAppConfig):
@@ -11,3 +13,17 @@ class PulpContainerPluginAppConfig(PulpPluginAppConfig):
 
     def ready(self):
         super().ready()
+
+        # Checks only needed if token auth is enabled
+        if str(getattr(settings, 'TOKEN_AUTH_DISABLED', False)).lower() == 'true':
+            return
+        
+        missing_settings = []
+        if getattr(settings, 'TOKEN_SERVER', None) is None:
+            raise ImproperlyConfigured("TODO TOKEN SERVER")
+        if getattr(settings, 'TOKEN_SIGNATURE_ALGORITHM', None) is None:
+            raise ImproperlyConfigured("TODO SIGNATURE ALGORITHM")
+        if getattr(settings, 'PUBLIC_KEY_PATH', None) is None:
+            raise ImproperlyConfigured("TODO PUBLIC KEY PATH")
+        if getattr(settings, 'PRIVATE_KEY_PATH', None) is None:
+            raise ImproperlyConfigured("TODO PRIVATE KEY PATH")