diff --git a/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/redis/listener/RedisMessageListenerContainer.java b/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/redis/listener/RedisMessageListenerContainer.java
index a9a8cd7ea..75c314f74 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/redis/listener/RedisMessageListenerContainer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/redis/listener/RedisMessageListenerContainer.java
@@ -122,8 +122,6 @@ public class RedisMessageListenerContainer implements InitializingBean, Disposab
 		}
 
 		initialized = true;
-
-		start();
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/redis/listener/PubSubTests.java b/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/redis/listener/PubSubTests.java
index 68b50ed5a..5e6524c55 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/redis/listener/PubSubTests.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/redis/listener/PubSubTests.java
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ public class PubSubTests<T> {
 		container.setBeanName("container");
 		container.addMessageListener(adapter, Arrays.asList(new ChannelTopic(CHANNEL)));
 		container.afterPropertiesSet();
+		container.start();
 
 		Thread.sleep(1000);
 	}