diff --git a/plugins/zenoh-plugin-storage-manager/src/lib.rs b/plugins/zenoh-plugin-storage-manager/src/lib.rs
index c916b649d9..7399d3e507 100644
--- a/plugins/zenoh-plugin-storage-manager/src/lib.rs
+++ b/plugins/zenoh-plugin-storage-manager/src/lib.rs
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ use memory_backend::MemoryBackend;
 use storages_mgt::StorageMessage;
 use zenoh::{
     internal::{
+        bail,
         plugins::{Response, RunningPlugin, RunningPluginTrait, ZenohPlugin},
         runtime::Runtime,
         zlock, LibLoader,
@@ -120,6 +121,22 @@ impl StorageRuntimeInner {
 
         let session = Arc::new(zenoh::session::init(runtime.clone()).wait()?);
 
+        // NOTE: All storage **must** have a timestamp associated with a Sample. Considering that it is possible to make
+        //       a publication without associating a timestamp, that means that the node managing the storage (be it a
+        //       Zenoh client / peer / router) has to add it.
+        //
+        //       If the `timestamping` configuration setting is disabled then there is no HLC associated with the
+        //       Session. That eventually means that no timestamp can be generated which goes against the previous
+        //       requirement.
+        //
+        //       Hence, in that scenario, we refuse to start the storage manager and any storage.
+        if session.hlc().is_none() {
+            tracing::error!(
+                "Cannot start storage manager (and thus any storage) without the 'timestamping' setting enabled in the Zenoh configuration"
+            );
+            bail!("Cannot start storage manager, 'timestamping' is disabled in the configuration");
+        }
+
         // After this moment result should be only Ok. Failure of loading of one voulme or storage should not affect others.
 
         let mut new_self = StorageRuntimeInner {
diff --git a/plugins/zenoh-plugin-storage-manager/tests/operations.rs b/plugins/zenoh-plugin-storage-manager/tests/operations.rs
index c1ed09b1a7..d8ada83e4c 100644
--- a/plugins/zenoh-plugin-storage-manager/tests/operations.rs
+++ b/plugins/zenoh-plugin-storage-manager/tests/operations.rs
@@ -70,6 +70,18 @@ async fn test_updates_in_order() {
                 }"#,
         )
         .unwrap();
+    config
+        .insert_json5(
+            "timestamping",
+            r#"{
+                    enabled: {
+                        router: true,
+                        peer: true,
+                        client: true
+                    }
+                }"#,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
 
     let runtime = zenoh::internal::runtime::RuntimeBuilder::new(config)
         .build()
diff --git a/plugins/zenoh-plugin-storage-manager/tests/wildcard.rs b/plugins/zenoh-plugin-storage-manager/tests/wildcard.rs
index d6e94ecb1f..d1633a28d4 100644
--- a/plugins/zenoh-plugin-storage-manager/tests/wildcard.rs
+++ b/plugins/zenoh-plugin-storage-manager/tests/wildcard.rs
@@ -71,6 +71,18 @@ async fn test_wild_card_in_order() {
                 }"#,
         )
         .unwrap();
+    config
+        .insert_json5(
+            "timestamping",
+            r#"{
+                    enabled: {
+                        router: true,
+                        peer: true,
+                        client: true
+                    }
+                }"#,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
 
     let runtime = zenoh::internal::runtime::RuntimeBuilder::new(config)
         .build()