diff --git a/spring-cloud-sleuth-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/sleuth/instrument/messaging/TracingChannelInterceptor.java b/spring-cloud-sleuth-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/sleuth/instrument/messaging/TracingChannelInterceptor.java
index 962651689..e454cefa5 100644
--- a/spring-cloud-sleuth-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/sleuth/instrument/messaging/TracingChannelInterceptor.java
+++ b/spring-cloud-sleuth-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/sleuth/instrument/messaging/TracingChannelInterceptor.java
@@ -288,6 +288,6 @@ public final class TracingChannelInterceptor extends ChannelInterceptorAdapter
 	}
 
 	private boolean emptyMessage(Message<?> message) {
-		return message == null || message.getPayload() == null;
+		return message == null;
 	}
 }