A circuit and a method for shutdown of automatic ignition controls upon valve relay failures. One or more embodiments describe a method including controlling a power supply to a valve by a valve drive circuit, the valve drive circuit comprising a first relay coil and a second relay coil. The method also includes controlling the valve drive circuit by checking the first relay coil and the second relay coil and issue a drive signal to the first relay coil and the second relay coil. The method further includes protecting from accidental supply of power by a protection switch based on the drive signal issued by the controller.