diff --git a/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/clients/comms_client.py b/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/clients/comms_client.py
index d18c3e47e02bd113aa2954f406d1f863f383983f..51960070a8178be2e2154398ae011defcdd72002 100644
--- a/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/clients/comms_client.py
+++ b/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/clients/comms_client.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ class AbstractCommClient(ABC):
     def stop(self):
         """ Stop communication with the client. """
 
+    @abstractmethod
     def ping(self):
         """ Check whether the connection is still alive.