diff --git a/spring-cloud-function-context/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/function/context/config/JsonMessageConverter.java b/spring-cloud-function-context/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/function/context/config/JsonMessageConverter.java
index 414e39ecc..99721c184 100644
--- a/spring-cloud-function-context/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/function/context/config/JsonMessageConverter.java
+++ b/spring-cloud-function-context/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/function/context/config/JsonMessageConverter.java
@@ -128,6 +128,9 @@ public class JsonMessageConverter extends AbstractMessageConverter {
 	@Override
 	protected Object convertToInternal(Object payload, @Nullable MessageHeaders headers,
 			@Nullable Object conversionHint) {
+		if (payload.getClass().getName().equals("org.springframework.kafka.support.KafkaNull")) {
+			return payload;
+		}
 		return jsonMapper.toJson(payload);
 	}