diff --git a/spring-cloud-stream/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/stream/aggregate/AggregateApplicationBuilder.java b/spring-cloud-stream/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/stream/aggregate/AggregateApplicationBuilder.java
index 095c358c2..3478d5bcc 100644
--- a/spring-cloud-stream/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/stream/aggregate/AggregateApplicationBuilder.java
+++ b/spring-cloud-stream/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/stream/aggregate/AggregateApplicationBuilder.java
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ public class AggregateApplicationBuilder {
 	ConfigurableApplicationContext parentContext;
 
 	public AggregateApplicationBuilder() {
+		this(SpringApplication.run(addAggregatorParentIfMissing(new Object[]{}), new String[]{}));
 	}
 
 	public AggregateApplicationBuilder(Object source, String... args) {
@@ -62,7 +63,6 @@ public class AggregateApplicationBuilder {
 	}
 
 	private static Object[] addAggregatorParentIfMissing(Object[] sources) {
-		Assert.notEmpty(sources, "At least one source must be provided");
 		Object[] aggregateParentSources;
 		if (!ObjectUtils.containsElement(sources, AggregatorParentConfiguration.class)) {
 			// add the AggregatorParentConfiguration first, so it can be overridden