diff --git a/spring-cloud-stream/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/stream/function/FunctionConfiguration.java b/spring-cloud-stream/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/stream/function/FunctionConfiguration.java
index 3eadc8c17..1f53ef425 100644
--- a/spring-cloud-stream/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/stream/function/FunctionConfiguration.java
+++ b/spring-cloud-stream/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/stream/function/FunctionConfiguration.java
@@ -418,7 +418,9 @@ public class FunctionConfiguration {
 							}
 						});
 					}
-					flux.subscribe();
+					if (!function.isConsumer()) {
+						flux.subscribe();
+					}
 				});
 			}
 			else {