diff --git a/spring-integration-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/transformer/MessageTransformingHandler.java b/spring-integration-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/transformer/MessageTransformingHandler.java
index 28cb8c414d..cf3bf9be70 100644
--- a/spring-integration-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/transformer/MessageTransformingHandler.java
+++ b/spring-integration-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/transformer/MessageTransformingHandler.java
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ public class MessageTransformingHandler extends AbstractReplyProducingMessageHan
 	public MessageTransformingHandler(Transformer transformer) {
 		Assert.notNull(transformer, "transformer must not be null");
 		this.transformer = transformer;
+		this.setRequiresReply(true);
 	}