diff --git a/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/redis/listener/ChannelTopic.java b/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/redis/listener/ChannelTopic.java
index e231521de..aea34f5b0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/redis/listener/ChannelTopic.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/redis/listener/ChannelTopic.java
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
  */
 package org.springframework.data.redis.listener;
 
+import org.springframework.util.Assert;
+
 /**
  * Channel topic implementation (maps to a Redis channel). 
  * 
@@ -30,6 +32,7 @@ public class ChannelTopic implements Topic {
 	 * @param name
 	 */
 	public ChannelTopic(String name) {
+		Assert.notNull(name, "a valid topic is required");
 		this.channelName = name;
 	}
 
@@ -41,4 +44,32 @@ public class ChannelTopic implements Topic {
 	public String getTopic() {
 		return channelName;
 	}
-}
+
+	@Override
+	public int hashCode() {
+		return channelName.hashCode();
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+		if (this == obj) {
+			return true;
+		}
+		if (obj == null) {
+			return false;
+		}
+		if (!(obj instanceof ChannelTopic)) {
+			return false;
+		}
+		ChannelTopic other = (ChannelTopic) obj;
+		if (channelName == null) {
+			if (other.channelName != null) {
+				return false;
+			}
+		}
+		else if (!channelName.equals(other.channelName)) {
+			return false;
+		}
+		return true;
+	}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/redis/listener/PatternTopic.java b/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/redis/listener/PatternTopic.java
index 2fb54d00a..618c4e780 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/redis/listener/PatternTopic.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/redis/listener/PatternTopic.java
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
  */
 package org.springframework.data.redis.listener;
 
+import org.springframework.util.Assert;
+
 /**
  * Pattern topic (matching multiple channels).
  * 
@@ -25,10 +27,39 @@ public class PatternTopic implements Topic {
 	private final String channelPattern;
 
 	public PatternTopic(String pattern) {
+		Assert.notNull(pattern, "a valid topic is required");
 		this.channelPattern = pattern;
 	}
 
 	public String getTopic() {
 		return channelPattern;
 	}
-}
+
+	@Override
+	public int hashCode() {
+		return channelPattern.hashCode();
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+		if (this == obj) {
+			return true;
+		}
+		if (obj == null) {
+			return false;
+		}
+		if (!(obj instanceof PatternTopic)) {
+			return false;
+		}
+		PatternTopic other = (PatternTopic) obj;
+		if (channelPattern == null) {
+			if (other.channelPattern != null) {
+				return false;
+			}
+		}
+		else if (!channelPattern.equals(other.channelPattern)) {
+			return false;
+		}
+		return true;
+	}
+}
\ No newline at end of file