Lysosomal damage is a major threat to cellular homeostasis and survival. Lysosomal damage has been implicated in many human diseases as well as normal ageing. However, the characterizations, functions and underlying molecular mechanisms of cellular responses to lysosomal damage (referred to as “lysosomal damage responses” hereafter) remain elusive. Our new publication uncovers that lysosomal damage can act as a hitherto unappreciated initiator of stress granule (SG) formation.