diff --git a/model_server/clients/imagej/adapter.py b/model_server/clients/imagej/adapter.py
index 4f977c2c7fd48a837615b573aae847be09f9374c..283f621dff8a84ec9a9929ed4e3039cc2e70d06f 100644
--- a/model_server/clients/imagej/adapter.py
+++ b/model_server/clients/imagej/adapter.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import httplib
 import json
 import urllib
 
+from ij import IJ
 from ij import ImagePlus
 
 HOST = '127.0.0.1'
@@ -36,6 +37,22 @@ def hit_endpoint(method, endpoint, params=None):
         content = {'str': str(resp_str)}
     return {'status': resp.status, 'content': content}
 
+
+def verify_server(popup=True):
+    resp = hit_endpoint('GET', '/')
+    if resp['status'] == 404:
+        msg = f'Could not find server found at {uri}'
+        IJ.log(msg)
+        if popup:
+            IJ.error(msg)
+    elif resp['status'] != 200:
+        msg = f'Unknown error verifying server at {uri}'
+        if popup:
+            IJ.error(msg)
+    else:
+        IJ.log(f'Verified server is online at {uri}')
+        return True
+
 def run_request_sequence(imp, func, params):
     """
     Execute a sequence of client requests in the ImageJ scripting environment