diff --git a/spring-integration-sftp/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/sftp/session/SftpSession.java b/spring-integration-sftp/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/sftp/session/SftpSession.java
index 55cdbc560c..15def88edc 100644
--- a/spring-integration-sftp/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/sftp/session/SftpSession.java
+++ b/spring-integration-sftp/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/sftp/session/SftpSession.java
@@ -118,6 +118,9 @@ public class SftpSession implements Session {
 				this.jschSession.connect();
 				this.channel = (ChannelSftp) this.jschSession.openChannel("sftp");
 			}
+			if (this.channel != null && !this.channel.isConnected()) {
+				this.channel.connect();
+			}
 		}
 		catch (JSchException e) {
 			throw new IllegalStateException("failed to connect", e);