diff --git a/secop/modules.py b/secop/modules.py
index 5746378..a8d9ec6 100644
--- a/secop/modules.py
+++ b/secop/modules.py
@@ -257,6 +257,9 @@ class Module(HasAccessibles):
         self.name = name
         self.valueCallbacks = {}
         self.errorCallbacks = {}
+        self.earlyInitDone = False
+        self.initModuleDone = False
+        self.startModuleDone = False
         errors = []
 
         # handle module properties
@@ -523,11 +526,12 @@ class Module(HasAccessibles):
         return False
 
     def earlyInit(self):
-        # may be overriden in derived classes to init stuff
-        self.log.debug('empty %s.earlyInit()' % self.__class__.__name__)
+        """initialise module with stuff to be done before all modules are created"""
+        self.earlyInitDone = True
 
     def initModule(self):
-        self.log.debug('empty %s.initModule()' % self.__class__.__name__)
+        """initialise module with stuff to be done after all modules are created"""
+        self.initModuleDone = True
 
     def pollOneParam(self, pname):
         """poll parameter <pname> with proper error handling"""
@@ -569,7 +573,11 @@ class Module(HasAccessibles):
         has finished its initial work
         might return a timeout value, if different from default
         """
-        mkthread(self.writeInitParams, started_callback)
+        if self.writeDict:
+            mkthread(self.writeInitParams, started_callback)
+        else:
+            started_callback()
+        self.startModuleDone = True
 
 
 class Readable(Module):
diff --git a/secop/server.py b/secop/server.py
index 8f49de5..4fa85b3 100644
--- a/secop/server.py
+++ b/secop/server.py
@@ -281,6 +281,8 @@ class Server:
                 modobj.pollerClass.add_to_table(poll_table, modobj)
             # also call earlyInit on the modules
             modobj.earlyInit()
+            if not modobj.earlyInitDone:
+                modobj.log.warning('missing supercall to earlyInit')
 
         # handle attached modules
         for modname, modobj in self.modules.items():
@@ -296,6 +298,8 @@ class Server:
         for modname, modobj in self.modules.items():
             try:
                 modobj.initModule()
+                if not modobj.initModuleDone:
+                    modobj.log.warning('missing supercall to initModule')
             except Exception as e:
                 if failure_traceback is None:
                     failure_traceback = traceback.format_exc()
@@ -319,6 +323,8 @@ class Server:
             event = threading.Event()
             # startModule must return either a timeout value or None (default 30 sec)
             timeout = modobj.startModule(started_callback=event.set) or 30
+            if not modobj.startModuleDone:
+                modobj.log.warning('missing supercall to startModule')
             start_events.append((time.time() + timeout, 'module %s' % modname, event))
         for poller in poll_table.values():
             event = threading.Event()