The setup conditions for a very low q (surface safety factor less than 2) tokamak have been studied. For the startup of a very low q discharge, the rate of rise of the current should be higher than a limiting value; this value is a function of the plasma density and is almost independent of the strength of the toroidal magnetic field. Because of the relatively high ramping rate of the current, the distribution of the safety factor assumes a hollow profile during the startup phase.