diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a69acb95f..a9a4df3f3 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ Yii Framework 2 redis extension Change Log
 -----------------------
 
 - Chg #14: Added missing `BLPOP` to `$redisCommands` (samdark)   
-
+- Bug #37 when redis connection is down (mirocow)
 
 2.0.4 May 10, 2015
 ------------------
diff --git a/Connection.php b/Connection.php
index a004d4a1b..91f6fb2f2 100644
--- a/Connection.php
+++ b/Connection.php
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ class Connection extends Component
     /**
      * @var resource redis socket connection
      */
-    private $_socket;
+    private $_socket = false;
 
 
     /**
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ public function __sleep()
      */
     public function getIsActive()
     {
-        return $this->_socket !== null;
+        return $this->_socket !== false;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ public function getIsActive()
      */
     public function open()
     {
-        if ($this->_socket !== null) {
+        if ($this->_socket !== false) {
             return;
         }
         $connection = ($this->unixSocket ?: $this->hostname . ':' . $this->port) . ', database=' . $this->database;
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ public function open()
      */
     public function close()
     {
-        if ($this->_socket !== null) {
+        if ($this->_socket !== false) {
             $connection = ($this->unixSocket ?: $this->hostname . ':' . $this->port) . ', database=' . $this->database;
             \Yii::trace('Closing DB connection: ' . $connection, __METHOD__);
             $this->executeCommand('QUIT');