diff --git a/src/Persistence/MartenTests/validate_empty_stream_key_on_start_stream.cs b/src/Persistence/MartenTests/validate_empty_stream_key_on_start_stream.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..50916c18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Persistence/MartenTests/validate_empty_stream_key_on_start_stream.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+using IntegrationTests;
+using Marten;
+using Marten.Events;
+using MartenTests.Distribution.TripDomain;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting;
+using Oakton.Resources;
+using Shouldly;
+using Wolverine;
+using Wolverine.Marten;
+
+namespace MartenTests;
+
+public class validate_empty_stream_key_on_start_stream: PostgresqlContext, IAsyncLifetime
+{
+    private IHost _host;
+    private IDocumentStore _store;
+
+    public async Task InitializeAsync()
+    {
+        _host = await Host.CreateDefaultBuilder()
+            .UseWolverine(opts =>
+            {
+                opts.Services
+                    .AddMarten(m =>
+                    {
+                        m.Connection(Servers.PostgresConnectionString);
+                        m.DatabaseSchemaName = "start_stream";
+                        m.Events.StreamIdentity = StreamIdentity.AsString;
+                    })
+                    .IntegrateWithWolverine();
+
+                opts.Policies.AutoApplyTransactions();
+
+                opts.Services.AddResourceSetupOnStartup();
+            }).StartAsync();
+
+        _store = _host.Services.GetRequiredService<IDocumentStore>();
+
+        await _store.Advanced.Clean.DeleteDocumentsByTypeAsync(typeof(NamedDocument));
+    }
+
+    public async Task DisposeAsync()
+    {
+        await _host.StopAsync();
+        _host.Dispose();
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void assert_empty_stream_key()
+    {
+        using var session = _store.LightweightSession();
+        
+        // No stream key supplied
+        var op = MartenOps.StartStream<Trip>(new TripStarted());
+
+        Should.Throw<InvalidOperationException>(() => op.Execute(session));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void happy_path_execution()
+    {
+        using var session = _store.LightweightSession();
+        
+        // No stream key supplied
+        var op = MartenOps.StartStream<Trip>("a good key", new TripStarted());
+        op.Execute(session);
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Persistence/Wolverine.Marten/IMartenOp.cs b/src/Persistence/Wolverine.Marten/IMartenOp.cs
index fb43217c..ece59301 100644
--- a/src/Persistence/Wolverine.Marten/IMartenOp.cs
+++ b/src/Persistence/Wolverine.Marten/IMartenOp.cs
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 using JasperFx.CodeGeneration.Model;
 using JasperFx.Core;
 using Marten;
+using Marten.Events;
+using Marten.Internal.Sessions;
 using Wolverine.Configuration;
 using Wolverine.Marten.Persistence.Sagas;
 using Wolverine.Runtime;
@@ -358,6 +360,13 @@ public StartStream<T> With(object @event)
 
     public void Execute(IDocumentSession session)
     {
+        if (session is DocumentSessionBase s && s.Options.Events.StreamIdentity == StreamIdentity.AsString &&
+            StreamKey.IsEmpty())
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException(
+                "The event stream identity is string, but the StreamKey is empty or null");
+        }
+        
         if (StreamId == Guid.Empty)
         {
             if (StreamKey.IsNotEmpty())