diff --git a/hitcount/mixins.py b/hitcount/mixins.py
index 6cb66c7..b81bac8 100644
--- a/hitcount/mixins.py
+++ b/hitcount/mixins.py
@@ -53,6 +53,10 @@ def hit_count(request, hitcount):
         """
         UpdateHitCountResponse = namedtuple(
             'UpdateHitCountResponse', 'hit_counted hit_message')
+        # as of Django 1.8.4 empty sessions are not being saved
+        # https://code.djangoproject.com/ticket/25489
+        if not request.session.session_key:
+            request.session.create()
 
         user = request.user
 
diff --git a/tests/test_mixins.py b/tests/test_mixins.py
index 6aab81e..95d3708 100644
--- a/tests/test_mixins.py
+++ b/tests/test_mixins.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 from django.contrib.auth.models import Group
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
+from django.contrib.sessions.backends.db import SessionStore
 from django.utils import timezone
 
 from hitcount.conf import settings
@@ -28,6 +29,19 @@ def test_when_use_ip_is_disabled(self):
         hit = Hit.objects.last()
         self.assertIsNone(hit.ip)
 
+    def test_session_key_is_not_present(self):
+        session = SessionStore(session_key=None)
+
+        self.request_post.session = session
+
+        response = HitCountViewMixin.hit_count(self.request_post, self.hit_count)
+
+        self.assertIs(response.hit_counted, True)
+        self.assertEqual(response.hit_message, 'Hit counted: session key')
+        # test database
+        hit = Hit.objects.last()
+        self.assertIsNotNone(hit.session)
+
     def test_anonymous_user_hit(self):
         response = HitCountViewMixin.hit_count(self.request_post, self.hit_count)