diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 2241d974..a50ae8f1 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -166,15 +166,6 @@ function session(options) {
 
   var storeImplementsTouch = typeof store.touch === 'function';
 
-  // register event listeners for the store to track readiness
-  var storeReady = true
-  store.on('disconnect', function ondisconnect() {
-    storeReady = false
-  })
-  store.on('connect', function onconnect() {
-    storeReady = true
-  })
-
   return function session(req, res, next) {
     // self-awareness
     if (req.session) {
@@ -182,14 +173,6 @@ function session(options) {
       return
     }
 
-    // Handle connection as if there is no session if
-    // the store has temporarily disconnected etc
-    if (!storeReady) {
-      debug('store is disconnected')
-      next()
-      return
-    }
-
     // pathname mismatch
     var originalPath = parseUrl.original(req).pathname;
     if (originalPath.indexOf(cookieOptions.path || '/') !== 0) return next();
diff --git a/session/store.js b/session/store.js
index 387469c5..58010659 100644
--- a/session/store.js
+++ b/session/store.js
@@ -84,6 +84,10 @@ Store.prototype.load = function(sid, fn){
  */
 
 Store.prototype.createSession = function(req, sess){
+  if (typeof sess === 'string') {
+      sess = JSON.parse(sess);
+  }
+  
   var expires = sess.cookie.expires
     , orig = sess.cookie.originalMaxAge;
   sess.cookie = new Cookie(sess.cookie);