diff --git a/spring-data-redis/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/keyvalue/redis/listener/RedisMessageListenerContainer.java b/spring-data-redis/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/keyvalue/redis/listener/RedisMessageListenerContainer.java
index 99e89f3b4..72fe03c15 100644
--- a/spring-data-redis/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/keyvalue/redis/listener/RedisMessageListenerContainer.java
+++ b/spring-data-redis/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/keyvalue/redis/listener/RedisMessageListenerContainer.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package org.springframework.data.keyvalue.redis.listener;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.Collection;
+import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
@@ -291,6 +292,17 @@ public class RedisMessageListenerContainer implements InitializingBean, Disposab
 		lazyListen();
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Adds a message listener to the (potentially running) container. If the container is running,
+	 * the listener starts receiving (matching) messages as soon as possible.
+	 * 
+	 * @param listener
+	 * @param topics
+	 */
+	public void addMessageListener(MessageListener listener, Topic topic) {
+		addMessageListener(listener, Collections.singleton(topic));
+	}
+
 	private void initMapping(Map<? extends MessageListener, Collection<? extends Topic>> listeners) {
 		// stop the listener if currently running
 		if (isRunning()) {