diff --git a/src/protocols/rdp/rdp.c b/src/protocols/rdp/rdp.c
index 3342079d0..ba99b3532 100644
--- a/src/protocols/rdp/rdp.c
+++ b/src/protocols/rdp/rdp.c
@@ -939,6 +939,14 @@ void* guac_rdp_client_thread(void* data) {
                 !settings->recording_exclude_touch,
                 settings->recording_include_keys,
                 settings->recording_write_existing);
+
+        /* If recording is required but failed, abort the connection */
+        if (rdp_client->recording == NULL && settings->require_recording) {
+            guac_client_abort(client, GUAC_PROTOCOL_STATUS_SERVER_ERROR,
+                    "Session recording is required but could not be created. "
+                    "Aborting connection.");
+            return NULL;
+        }
     }
 
     /* Continue handling connections until error or client disconnect */
diff --git a/src/protocols/rdp/settings.c b/src/protocols/rdp/settings.c
index 49a38af06..86bc63110 100644
--- a/src/protocols/rdp/settings.c
+++ b/src/protocols/rdp/settings.c
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ const char* GUAC_RDP_CLIENT_ARGS[] = {
     "recording-include-keys",
     "create-recording-path",
     "recording-write-existing",
+    "require-recording",
     "resize-method",
     "enable-audio-input",
     "enable-touch",
@@ -593,6 +594,12 @@ enum RDP_ARGS_IDX {
      */
     IDX_RECORDING_WRITE_EXISTING,
 
+    /**
+     * Whether recording is required. If set to "true", the connection will
+     * be closed if the recording cannot be created for any reason.
+     */
+    IDX_REQUIRE_RECORDING,
+
     /**
      * The method to use to apply screen size changes requested by the user.
      * Valid values are blank, "display-update", and "reconnect".
@@ -1216,6 +1223,11 @@ guac_rdp_settings* guac_rdp_parse_args(guac_user* user,
         guac_user_parse_args_boolean(user, GUAC_RDP_CLIENT_ARGS, argv,
                 IDX_RECORDING_WRITE_EXISTING, 0);
 
+    /* Parse require recording flag */
+    settings->require_recording =
+        guac_user_parse_args_boolean(user, GUAC_RDP_CLIENT_ARGS, argv,
+                IDX_REQUIRE_RECORDING, 0);
+
     /* No resize method */
     if (strcmp(argv[IDX_RESIZE_METHOD], "") == 0) {
         guac_user_log(user, GUAC_LOG_INFO, "Resize method: none");
diff --git a/src/protocols/rdp/settings.h b/src/protocols/rdp/settings.h
index b4bb098d2..bd02514bc 100644
--- a/src/protocols/rdp/settings.h
+++ b/src/protocols/rdp/settings.h
@@ -595,6 +595,13 @@ typedef struct guac_rdp_settings {
      */
     int recording_write_existing;
 
+    /**
+     * Non-zero if the connection should be closed when a recording cannot be
+     * created. Zero by default, meaning the connection will proceed even if
+     * recording fails.
+     */
+    int require_recording;
+
     /** 
      * The method to apply when the user's display changes size.
      */
diff --git a/src/protocols/ssh/settings.c b/src/protocols/ssh/settings.c
index 456f80f52..6998aba57 100644
--- a/src/protocols/ssh/settings.c
+++ b/src/protocols/ssh/settings.c
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ const char* GUAC_SSH_CLIENT_ARGS[] = {
     "recording-include-keys",
     "create-recording-path",
     "recording-write-existing",
+    "require-recording",
     "read-only",
     "server-alive-interval",
     "backspace",
@@ -266,6 +267,12 @@ enum SSH_ARGS_IDX {
      */
     IDX_RECORDING_WRITE_EXISTING,
 
+    /**
+     * Whether recording is required. If set to "true", the connection will
+     * be closed if the recording cannot be created for any reason.
+     */
+    IDX_REQUIRE_RECORDING,
+
     /**
      * "true" if this connection should be read-only (user input should be
      * dropped), "false" or blank otherwise.
@@ -546,6 +553,11 @@ guac_ssh_settings* guac_ssh_parse_args(guac_user* user,
         guac_user_parse_args_boolean(user, GUAC_SSH_CLIENT_ARGS, argv,
                 IDX_RECORDING_WRITE_EXISTING, false);
 
+    /* Parse require recording flag */
+    settings->require_recording =
+        guac_user_parse_args_boolean(user, GUAC_SSH_CLIENT_ARGS, argv,
+                IDX_REQUIRE_RECORDING, false);
+
     /* Parse server alive interval */
     settings->server_alive_interval =
         guac_user_parse_args_int(user, GUAC_SSH_CLIENT_ARGS, argv,
diff --git a/src/protocols/ssh/settings.h b/src/protocols/ssh/settings.h
index 3d4f9a7e8..128055faf 100644
--- a/src/protocols/ssh/settings.h
+++ b/src/protocols/ssh/settings.h
@@ -278,6 +278,13 @@ typedef struct guac_ssh_settings {
      */
     bool recording_write_existing;
 
+    /**
+     * Non-zero if the connection should be closed when a recording cannot be
+     * created. Zero by default, meaning the connection will proceed even if
+     * recording fails.
+     */
+    bool require_recording;
+
     /**
      * The number of seconds between sending server alive messages.
      */
diff --git a/src/protocols/ssh/ssh.c b/src/protocols/ssh/ssh.c
index 30cadf261..3f5224e55 100644
--- a/src/protocols/ssh/ssh.c
+++ b/src/protocols/ssh/ssh.c
@@ -293,6 +293,14 @@ void* ssh_client_thread(void* data) {
                 0, /* Touch events not supported */
                 settings->recording_include_keys,
                 settings->recording_write_existing);
+
+        /* If recording is required but failed, abort the connection */
+        if (ssh_client->recording == NULL && settings->require_recording) {
+            guac_client_abort(client, GUAC_PROTOCOL_STATUS_SERVER_ERROR,
+                    "Session recording is required but could not be created. "
+                    "Aborting connection.");
+            return NULL;
+        }
     }
 
     /* Create terminal options with required parameters */
diff --git a/src/protocols/telnet/settings.c b/src/protocols/telnet/settings.c
index 3da708113..1a61500a8 100644
--- a/src/protocols/telnet/settings.c
+++ b/src/protocols/telnet/settings.c
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ const char* GUAC_TELNET_CLIENT_ARGS[] = {
     "recording-include-keys",
     "create-recording-path",
     "recording-write-existing",
+    "require-recording",
     "read-only",
     "backspace",
     "func-keys-and-keypad",
@@ -212,6 +213,12 @@ enum TELNET_ARGS_IDX {
      */
     IDX_RECORDING_WRITE_EXISTING,
 
+    /**
+     * Whether recording is required. If set to "true", the connection will
+     * be closed if the recording cannot be created for any reason.
+     */
+    IDX_REQUIRE_RECORDING,
+
     /**
      * "true" if this connection should be read-only (user input should be
      * dropped), "false" or blank otherwise.
@@ -526,6 +533,11 @@ guac_telnet_settings* guac_telnet_parse_args(guac_user* user,
         guac_user_parse_args_boolean(user, GUAC_TELNET_CLIENT_ARGS, argv,
                 IDX_RECORDING_WRITE_EXISTING, false);
 
+    /* Parse require recording flag */
+    settings->require_recording =
+        guac_user_parse_args_boolean(user, GUAC_TELNET_CLIENT_ARGS, argv,
+                IDX_REQUIRE_RECORDING, false);
+
     /* Parse backspace key code */
     settings->backspace =
         guac_user_parse_args_int(user, GUAC_TELNET_CLIENT_ARGS, argv,
diff --git a/src/protocols/telnet/settings.h b/src/protocols/telnet/settings.h
index a92201b2d..368445558 100644
--- a/src/protocols/telnet/settings.h
+++ b/src/protocols/telnet/settings.h
@@ -254,6 +254,13 @@ typedef struct guac_telnet_settings {
      */
     bool recording_write_existing;
 
+    /**
+     * Non-zero if the connection should be closed when a recording cannot be
+     * created. Zero by default, meaning the connection will proceed even if
+     * recording fails.
+     */
+    bool require_recording;
+
     /**
      * The ASCII code, as an integer, that the telnet client will use when the
      * backspace key is pressed.  By default, this is 127, ASCII delete, if
diff --git a/src/protocols/telnet/telnet.c b/src/protocols/telnet/telnet.c
index c084bffca..609cff81a 100644
--- a/src/protocols/telnet/telnet.c
+++ b/src/protocols/telnet/telnet.c
@@ -549,6 +549,14 @@ void* guac_telnet_client_thread(void* data) {
                 0, /* Touch events not supported */
                 settings->recording_include_keys,
                 settings->recording_write_existing);
+
+        /* If recording is required but failed, abort the connection */
+        if (telnet_client->recording == NULL && settings->require_recording) {
+            guac_client_abort(client, GUAC_PROTOCOL_STATUS_SERVER_ERROR,
+                    "Session recording is required but could not be created. "
+                    "Aborting connection.");
+            return NULL;
+        }
     }
 
     /* Create terminal options with required parameters */
diff --git a/src/protocols/vnc/settings.c b/src/protocols/vnc/settings.c
index 7828971f7..e0ab20b2f 100644
--- a/src/protocols/vnc/settings.c
+++ b/src/protocols/vnc/settings.c
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ const char* GUAC_VNC_CLIENT_ARGS[] = {
     "recording-include-keys",
     "create-recording-path",
     "recording-write-existing",
+    "require-recording",
     "clipboard-buffer-size",
     "disable-copy",
     "disable-paste",
@@ -367,6 +368,12 @@ enum VNC_ARGS_IDX {
      */
     IDX_RECORDING_WRITE_EXISTING,
 
+    /**
+     * Whether recording is required. If set to "true", the connection will
+     * be closed if the recording cannot be created for any reason.
+     */
+    IDX_REQUIRE_RECORDING,
+
     /**
      * The maximum number of bytes to allow within the clipboard.
      */
@@ -688,6 +695,11 @@ guac_vnc_settings* guac_vnc_parse_args(guac_user* user,
         guac_user_parse_args_boolean(user, GUAC_VNC_CLIENT_ARGS, argv,
                 IDX_RECORDING_WRITE_EXISTING, false);
 
+    /* Parse require recording flag */
+    settings->require_recording =
+        guac_user_parse_args_boolean(user, GUAC_VNC_CLIENT_ARGS, argv,
+                IDX_REQUIRE_RECORDING, false);
+
     /* Parse clipboard copy disable flag */
     settings->disable_copy =
         guac_user_parse_args_boolean(user, GUAC_VNC_CLIENT_ARGS, argv,
diff --git a/src/protocols/vnc/settings.h b/src/protocols/vnc/settings.h
index 1588b07db..8af2633e9 100644
--- a/src/protocols/vnc/settings.h
+++ b/src/protocols/vnc/settings.h
@@ -315,6 +315,13 @@ typedef struct guac_vnc_settings {
      * Disabled by default.
      */
     bool recording_write_existing;
+
+    /**
+     * Non-zero if the connection should be closed when a recording cannot be
+     * created. Zero by default, meaning the connection will proceed even if
+     * recording fails.
+     */
+    bool require_recording;
     
     /**
      * Whether or not to send the magic Wake-on-LAN (WoL) packet prior to
diff --git a/src/protocols/vnc/vnc.c b/src/protocols/vnc/vnc.c
index 630ce9868..2f8f0d16f 100644
--- a/src/protocols/vnc/vnc.c
+++ b/src/protocols/vnc/vnc.c
@@ -588,6 +588,14 @@ void* guac_vnc_client_thread(void* data) {
                 0, /* Touch events not supported */
                 settings->recording_include_keys,
                 settings->recording_write_existing);
+
+        /* If recording is required but failed, abort the connection */
+        if (vnc_client->recording == NULL && settings->require_recording) {
+            guac_client_abort(client, GUAC_PROTOCOL_STATUS_SERVER_ERROR,
+                    "Session recording is required but could not be created. "
+                    "Aborting connection.");
+            return NULL;
+        }
     }
 
     /* Create display */