diff --git a/bgg_connection.py b/bgg_connection.py
index a89c942..66086b3 100644
--- a/bgg_connection.py
+++ b/bgg_connection.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import requests
 from classes.boardgame import BoardGame, BoardGameExpansion
 import auth_manager
 
-authenticated_session: requests.Session
+authenticated_session: requests.Session = requests.Session()
 
 def url_to_xml_object(url: HttpUrl) -> ET.Element:
     r = authenticated_session.get(url)
@@ -74,10 +74,13 @@ def load_authenticated_bgg_session(username: str, password: str) -> requests.Ses
         }
     }
 
-    authenticated_session = requests.Session()
+
+    assert len(authenticated_session.cookies) == 0, 'Session already exists'
+
     login_response = authenticated_session.post(login_url, json=post_data)
 
-    assert login_response.status_code == 204
+    assert login_response.status_code == 204, "Login failed!"
+
 
     
 load_authenticated_bgg_session(auth_manager.username, auth_manager.password)
\ No newline at end of file