diff --git a/cluster.md b/cluster.md
index 96d0fa4..3fd9fb1 100644
--- a/cluster.md
+++ b/cluster.md
@@ -193,3 +193,12 @@ The save path for cluster based session storage takes the form of a PHP GET requ
   * _distribute_: phpredis will randomly distribute session reads between masters and any attached slaves (load balancing).
 * _auth (string, empty by default)_:  The password used to authenticate with the server prior to sending commands.
 * _stream (array)_: ssl/tls stream context options.
+
+### redis.session.early_refresh
+Under normal operation, the client will refresh the session's expiry ttl whenever the session is closed. However, we can save this additional round-trip by updating the ttl when the session is opened instead ( This means that sessions that have not been modified will not send further commands to the server ).
+
+To enable, set the following INI variable:
+```ini
+redis.session.early_refresh = 1
+```
+Note: This is disabled by default since it may significantly reduce the session lifetime for long-running scripts. Redis server version 6.2+ required.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/redis.c b/redis.c
index 1cb1f5b..c625d81 100644
--- a/redis.c
+++ b/redis.c
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ PHP_INI_BEGIN()
     PHP_INI_ENTRY("redis.session.lock_expire", "0", PHP_INI_ALL, NULL)
     PHP_INI_ENTRY("redis.session.lock_retries", "100", PHP_INI_ALL, NULL)
     PHP_INI_ENTRY("redis.session.lock_wait_time", "20000", PHP_INI_ALL, NULL)
+    PHP_INI_ENTRY("redis.session.early_refresh", "0", PHP_INI_ALL, NULL)
 PHP_INI_END()
 
 static const zend_module_dep redis_deps[] = {
diff --git a/redis_session.c b/redis_session.c
index 192f890..204f651 100644
--- a/redis_session.c
+++ b/redis_session.c
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ ps_module ps_mod_redis = {
 };
 
 ps_module ps_mod_redis_cluster = {
-    PS_MOD(rediscluster)
+    PS_MOD_UPDATE_TIMESTAMP(rediscluster)
 };
 
 typedef struct {
@@ -982,6 +982,166 @@ failure:
     return FAILURE;
 }
 
+/* {{{ PS_CREATE_SID_FUNC
+ */
+PS_CREATE_SID_FUNC(rediscluster)
+{
+    redisCluster *c = PS_GET_MOD_DATA();
+    clusterReply *reply;
+    char *cmd, *skey;
+    zend_string *sid;
+    int cmdlen, skeylen;
+    int retries = 3;
+    short slot;
+
+    if (!c) {
+        return php_session_create_id(NULL);
+    }
+
+    if (INI_INT("session.use_strict_mode") == 0) {
+        return php_session_create_id((void **) &c);
+    }
+
+    while (retries-- > 0) {
+        sid = php_session_create_id((void **) &c);
+
+        /* Create session key if it doesn't already exist */
+        skey = cluster_session_key(c, ZSTR_VAL(sid), ZSTR_LEN(sid), &skeylen, &slot);
+        cmdlen = redis_spprintf(NULL, NULL, &cmd, "SET", "ssssd", skey,
+                        skeylen, "", 0, "NX", 2, "EX", 2, session_gc_maxlifetime());
+
+        efree(skey);
+
+        /* Attempt to kick off our command */
+        c->readonly = 0;
+        if (cluster_send_command(c,slot,cmd,cmdlen) < 0 || c->err) {
+            php_error_docref(NULL, E_NOTICE, "Redis connection not available");
+            efree(cmd);
+            zend_string_release(sid);
+            return php_session_create_id(NULL);;
+        }
+
+        efree(cmd);
+
+        /* Attempt to read reply */
+        reply = cluster_read_resp(c, 1);
+
+        if (!reply || c->err) {
+            php_error_docref(NULL, E_NOTICE, "Unable to read redis response");
+        } else if (reply->len > 0) {
+            cluster_free_reply(reply, 1);
+            break;
+        } else {
+            php_error_docref(NULL, E_NOTICE, "Redis sid collision on %s, retrying %d time(s)", sid->val, retries);
+        }
+
+        if (reply) {
+            cluster_free_reply(reply, 1);
+        }
+
+        zend_string_release(sid);
+        sid = NULL;
+    }
+
+    return sid;
+}
+/* }}} */
+
+/* {{{ PS_VALIDATE_SID_FUNC
+ */
+PS_VALIDATE_SID_FUNC(rediscluster)
+{
+    redisCluster *c = PS_GET_MOD_DATA();
+    clusterReply *reply;
+    char *cmd, *skey;
+    int cmdlen, skeylen;
+    int res = FAILURE;
+    short slot;
+
+    /* Check key is valid and whether it already exists */
+    if (php_session_valid_key(ZSTR_VAL(key)) == FAILURE) {
+        php_error_docref(NULL, E_NOTICE, "Invalid session key: %s", ZSTR_VAL(key));
+        return FAILURE;
+    }
+
+    skey = cluster_session_key(c, ZSTR_VAL(key), ZSTR_LEN(key), &skeylen, &slot);
+    cmdlen = redis_spprintf(NULL, NULL, &cmd, "EXISTS", "s", skey, skeylen);
+    efree(skey);
+
+    /* We send to master, to ensure consistency */
+    c->readonly = 0;
+    if (cluster_send_command(c,slot,cmd,cmdlen) < 0 || c->err) {
+        php_error_docref(NULL, E_NOTICE, "Redis connection not available");
+        efree(cmd);
+        return FAILURE;
+    }
+
+    efree(cmd);
+
+    /* Attempt to read reply */
+    reply = cluster_read_resp(c, 0);
+
+    if (!reply || c->err) {
+        php_error_docref(NULL, E_NOTICE, "Unable to read redis response");
+        res = FAILURE;
+    } else if (reply->integer == 1) {
+        res = SUCCESS;
+    }
+
+     /* Clean up */
+    if (reply) {
+        cluster_free_reply(reply, 1);
+    }
+
+    return res;
+}
+/* }}} */
+
+/* {{{ PS_UPDATE_TIMESTAMP_FUNC
+ */
+PS_UPDATE_TIMESTAMP_FUNC(rediscluster) {
+    redisCluster *c = PS_GET_MOD_DATA();
+    clusterReply *reply;
+    char *cmd, *skey;
+    int cmdlen, skeylen;
+    short slot;
+
+    /* No need to update the session timestamp if we've already done so */
+    if (INI_INT("redis.session.early_refresh")) {
+        return SUCCESS;
+    }
+
+    /* Set up command and slot info */
+    skey = cluster_session_key(c, ZSTR_VAL(key), ZSTR_LEN(key), &skeylen, &slot);
+    cmdlen = redis_spprintf(NULL, NULL, &cmd, "EXPIRE", "sd", skey,
+                            skeylen, session_gc_maxlifetime());
+    efree(skey);
+
+    /* Attempt to send EXPIRE command */
+    c->readonly = 0;
+    if (cluster_send_command(c,slot,cmd,cmdlen) < 0 || c->err) {
+        php_error_docref(NULL, E_NOTICE, "Redis unable to update session expiry"); 
+        efree(cmd);
+        return FAILURE;
+    }
+
+    /* Clean up our command */
+    efree(cmd);
+
+    /* Attempt to read reply */
+    reply = cluster_read_resp(c, 0);
+    if (!reply || c->err) {
+        if (reply) cluster_free_reply(reply, 1);
+        return FAILURE;
+    }
+
+    /* Clean up */
+    cluster_free_reply(reply, 1);
+
+    return SUCCESS;
+}
+/* }}} */
+
 /* {{{ PS_READ_FUNC
  */
 PS_READ_FUNC(rediscluster) {
@@ -994,11 +1154,19 @@ PS_READ_FUNC(rediscluster) {
     /* Set up our command and slot information */
     skey = cluster_session_key(c, ZSTR_VAL(key), ZSTR_LEN(key), &skeylen, &slot);
 
-    cmdlen = redis_spprintf(NULL, NULL, &cmd, "GET", "s", skey, skeylen);
+    /* Update the session ttl if early refresh is enabled */
+    if (INI_INT("redis.session.early_refresh")) {
+        cmdlen = redis_spprintf(NULL, NULL, &cmd, "GETEX", "ssd", skey,
+                                skeylen, "EX", 2, session_gc_maxlifetime());
+        c->readonly = 0;
+    } else {
+        cmdlen = redis_spprintf(NULL, NULL, &cmd, "GET", "s", skey, skeylen);
+        c->readonly = 1;
+    }
+    
     efree(skey);
 
     /* Attempt to kick off our command */
-    c->readonly = 1;
     if (cluster_send_command(c,slot,cmd,cmdlen) < 0 || c->err) {
         efree(cmd);
         return FAILURE;
@@ -1126,4 +1294,4 @@ PS_GC_FUNC(rediscluster) {
 
 #endif
 
-/* vim: set tabstop=4 expandtab: */
+/* vim: set tabstop=4 expandtab: */
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/redis_session.h b/redis_session.h
index 1529c05..d72e620 100644
--- a/redis_session.h
+++ b/redis_session.h
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ PS_READ_FUNC(rediscluster);
 PS_WRITE_FUNC(rediscluster);
 PS_DESTROY_FUNC(rediscluster);
 PS_GC_FUNC(rediscluster);
+PS_CREATE_SID_FUNC(rediscluster);
+PS_VALIDATE_SID_FUNC(rediscluster);
+PS_UPDATE_TIMESTAMP_FUNC(rediscluster);
 
 #endif
 #endif