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..d02fc572d 100644
--- a/pulp_container/app/__init__.py
+++ b/pulp_container/app/__init__.py
@@ -11,3 +11,4 @@ class PulpContainerPluginAppConfig(PulpPluginAppConfig):
 
     def ready(self):
         super().ready()
+        from . import checks
diff --git a/pulp_container/app/checks.py b/pulp_container/app/checks.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..916859b78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pulp_container/app/checks.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.core.checks import Error as CheckError, register
+
+
+@register(deploy=True)
+def container_settings_check(app_configs, **kwargs):
+    errors = []
+
+    # Other checks only apply if token auth is enabled
+    if str(getattr(settings, "TOKEN_AUTH_DISABLED", False)).lower() == "true":
+        return errors
+
+    if getattr(settings, "TOKEN_SERVER", None) is None:
+        errors.append(
+            CheckError(
+                "TOKEN_SERVER setting has to be set when token authentification is enabled",
+                id="pulp_container.E001",
+            ),
+        )
+    if getattr(settings, "TOKEN_SIGNATURE_ALGORITHM", None) is None:
+        errors.append(
+            CheckError(
+                "TOKEN_SIGNATURE_ALGORITHM setting has to be set when token authentification"
+                " is enabled",
+                id="pulp_container.E001",
+            )
+        )
+    if getattr(settings, "PUBLIC_KEY_PATH", None) is None:
+        errors.append(
+            CheckError(
+                "PUBLIC_KEY_PATH setting has to be set when token authentification is enabled",
+                id="pulp_container.E001",
+            )
+        )
+    if getattr(settings, "PRIVATE_KEY_PATH", None) is None:
+        errors.append(
+            CheckError(
+                "PRIVATE_KEY_PATH setting has to be set when token authentification is enabled",
+                id="pulp_container.E001",
+            )
+        )
+
+    return errors