diff --git a/samples/standalone/messaging/stream-sink/build.gradle b/samples/standalone/messaging/stream-sink/build.gradle
index f0ba8ffb2c..0629042ea2 100644
--- a/samples/standalone/messaging/stream-sink/build.gradle
+++ b/samples/standalone/messaging/stream-sink/build.gradle
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ buildscript {
 		maven { url "http://repo.spring.io/release" }
 	}
 	dependencies {
-		classpath "org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-gradle-plugin:1.5.0.BUILD-SNAPSHOT"
+		classpath "org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-gradle-plugin:1.5.3.RELEASE"
 	}
 }
 
@@ -49,10 +49,6 @@ test {
 	}
 }
 
-task wrapper(type: Wrapper) {
-    gradleVersion = '2.14'
-}
-
 task resolveDependencies {
 	doLast {
 		project.rootProject.allprojects.each { subProject ->
diff --git a/samples/standalone/messaging/stream-sink/pom.xml b/samples/standalone/messaging/stream-sink/pom.xml
index a0ddf7521b..dd2d04459d 100644
--- a/samples/standalone/messaging/stream-sink/pom.xml
+++ b/samples/standalone/messaging/stream-sink/pom.xml
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 	<parent>
 		<groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
 		<artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
-		<version>1.5.0.BUILD-SNAPSHOT</version>
+		<version>1.5.3.RELEASE</version>
 		<relativePath/> <!-- lookup parent from repository -->
 	</parent>
 
diff --git a/samples/standalone/messaging/stream-sink/src/test/java/com/example/sink/MessageConsumedTests.java b/samples/standalone/messaging/stream-sink/src/test/java/com/example/sink/MessageConsumedTests.java
index c7c9358873..817c2dc72f 100644
--- a/samples/standalone/messaging/stream-sink/src/test/java/com/example/sink/MessageConsumedTests.java
+++ b/samples/standalone/messaging/stream-sink/src/test/java/com/example/sink/MessageConsumedTests.java
@@ -18,13 +18,20 @@ package com.example.sink;
 
 import org.junit.Test;
 import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
+
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Autowired;
+import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Qualifier;
 import org.springframework.boot.test.context.SpringBootTest;
 import org.springframework.boot.test.context.SpringBootTest.WebEnvironment;
 import org.springframework.cloud.contract.stubrunner.StubTrigger;
 import org.springframework.cloud.contract.stubrunner.spring.AutoConfigureStubRunner;
+import org.springframework.cloud.stream.messaging.Sink;
+import org.springframework.integration.support.management.MessageChannelMetrics;
+import org.springframework.messaging.SubscribableChannel;
 import org.springframework.test.context.junit4.SpringJUnit4ClassRunner;
 
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
+
 /**
  * @author Marius Bogoevici
  */
@@ -36,8 +43,14 @@ public class MessageConsumedTests {
 	@Autowired
 	StubTrigger stubTrigger;
 
+	@Autowired
+	@Qualifier(Sink.INPUT)
+	SubscribableChannel input;
+
 	@Test
 	public void testMessageConsumed() throws Exception {
+		int count = ((MessageChannelMetrics) input).getSendCount();
 		stubTrigger.trigger("sensor1");
+		assertThat(((MessageChannelMetrics) input).getSendCount()).isEqualTo(count + 1);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/samples/standalone/messaging/stream-source/build.gradle b/samples/standalone/messaging/stream-source/build.gradle
index 3308258840..3d25eaaec9 100644
--- a/samples/standalone/messaging/stream-source/build.gradle
+++ b/samples/standalone/messaging/stream-source/build.gradle
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ buildscript {
 		maven { url "http://repo.spring.io/release" }
 	}
 	dependencies {
-		classpath "org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-gradle-plugin:1.5.0.BUILD-SNAPSHOT"
+		classpath "org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-gradle-plugin:1.5.3.RELEASE"
 		classpath "org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-contract-gradle-plugin:${findProperty('verifierVersion') ?: verifierVersion}"
 		classpath "io.rest-assured:rest-assured:3.0.2"
 		classpath "io.rest-assured:spring-mock-mvc:3.0.2"
@@ -84,10 +84,6 @@ test {
 	}
 }
 
-task wrapper(type: Wrapper) {
-    gradleVersion = '2.14'
-}
-
 clean.doFirst {
 	delete "~/.m2/repository/com/example/stream-source-gradle"
 }
diff --git a/samples/standalone/messaging/stream-source/pom.xml b/samples/standalone/messaging/stream-source/pom.xml
index e11c1616e0..2a519d7a7f 100644
--- a/samples/standalone/messaging/stream-source/pom.xml
+++ b/samples/standalone/messaging/stream-source/pom.xml
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 	<parent>
 		<groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
 		<artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
-		<version>1.5.0.BUILD-SNAPSHOT</version>
+		<version>1.5.3.RELEASE</version>
 		<relativePath/> <!-- lookup parent from repository -->
 	</parent>