diff --git a/src/Symfony/Bridge/Twig/AppVariable.php b/src/Symfony/Bridge/Twig/AppVariable.php
index e8e69d0ee3..54a785c0a4 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Bridge/Twig/AppVariable.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Bridge/Twig/AppVariable.php
@@ -156,10 +156,9 @@ class AppVariable
      */
     public function getFlashes($types = null)
     {
-        // needed to avoid starting the session automatically when looking for flash messages
         try {
             $session = $this->getSession();
-            if (null === $session || !$session->isStarted()) {
+            if (null === $session) {
                 return array();
             }
         } catch (\RuntimeException $e) {
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Bridge/Twig/Tests/AppVariableTest.php b/src/Symfony/Bridge/Twig/Tests/AppVariableTest.php
index f6c678a918..27eca0c44a 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Bridge/Twig/Tests/AppVariableTest.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Bridge/Twig/Tests/AppVariableTest.php
@@ -174,13 +174,8 @@ class AppVariableTest extends TestCase
      */
     public function testGetFlashesWithNoSessionStarted()
     {
-        $session = $this->getMockBuilder(Session::class)->disableOriginalConstructor()->getMock();
-        $request = $this->getMockBuilder('Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Request')->getMock();
-        $request->method('getSession')->willReturn($session);
-
-        $this->setRequestStack($request);
-
-        $this->assertEquals(array(), $this->appVariable->getFlashes());
+        $flashMessages = $this->setFlashMessages(false);
+        $this->assertEquals($flashMessages, $this->appVariable->getFlashes());
     }
 
     /**
@@ -258,7 +253,7 @@ class AppVariableTest extends TestCase
         $token->method('getUser')->willReturn($user);
     }
 
-    private function setFlashMessages()
+    private function setFlashMessages($sessionHasStarted = true)
     {
         $flashMessages = array(
             'notice' => array('Notice #1 message'),
@@ -269,7 +264,7 @@ class AppVariableTest extends TestCase
         $flashBag->initialize($flashMessages);
 
         $session = $this->getMockBuilder('Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Session\Session')->disableOriginalConstructor()->getMock();
-        $session->method('isStarted')->willReturn(true);
+        $session->method('isStarted')->willReturn($sessionHasStarted);
         $session->method('getFlashBag')->willReturn($flashBag);
 
         $request = $this->getMockBuilder('Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Request')->getMock();