diff --git a/spring-cloud-stream-binder-rabbit/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/stream/binder/rabbit/RabbitMessageChannelBinder.java b/spring-cloud-stream-binder-rabbit/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/stream/binder/rabbit/RabbitMessageChannelBinder.java
index 9dfb89541..2bceaa61d 100644
--- a/spring-cloud-stream-binder-rabbit/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/stream/binder/rabbit/RabbitMessageChannelBinder.java
+++ b/spring-cloud-stream-binder-rabbit/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/stream/binder/rabbit/RabbitMessageChannelBinder.java
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ import org.springframework.amqp.rabbit.retry.RejectAndDontRequeueRecoverer;
 import org.springframework.amqp.rabbit.retry.RepublishMessageRecoverer;
 import org.springframework.amqp.rabbit.support.DefaultMessagePropertiesConverter;
 import org.springframework.amqp.rabbit.support.MessagePropertiesConverter;
+import org.springframework.amqp.support.converter.AbstractMessageConverter;
+import org.springframework.amqp.support.converter.MessageConversionException;
+import org.springframework.amqp.support.converter.SimpleMessageConverter;
 import org.springframework.amqp.support.postprocessor.DelegatingDecompressingPostProcessor;
 import org.springframework.amqp.support.postprocessor.GZipPostProcessor;
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.DisposableBean;
@@ -107,6 +110,9 @@ public class RabbitMessageChannelBinder
 		implements ExtendedPropertiesBinder<MessageChannel, RabbitConsumerProperties, RabbitProducerProperties>,
 			DisposableBean {
 
+	private static final SimplePassthroughMessageConverter passThoughConverter =
+			new SimplePassthroughMessageConverter();
+
 	private static final AmqpMessageHeaderErrorMessageStrategy errorMessageStrategy =
 			new AmqpMessageHeaderErrorMessageStrategy();
 
@@ -290,7 +296,7 @@ public class RabbitMessageChannelBinder
 			endpoint.setConfirmCorrelationExpressionString("#root");
 			endpoint.setErrorMessageStrategy(new DefaultErrorMessageStrategy());
 		}
-		endpoint.afterPropertiesSet();
+		endpoint.setHeadersMappedLast(true);
 		return endpoint;
 	}
 
@@ -400,6 +406,7 @@ public class RabbitMessageChannelBinder
 			adapter.setErrorMessageStrategy(errorMessageStrategy);
 			adapter.setErrorChannel(errorInfrastructure.getErrorChannel());
 		}
+		adapter.setMessageConverter(passThoughConverter);
 		return adapter;
 	}
 
@@ -590,6 +597,7 @@ public class RabbitMessageChannelBinder
 		else {
 			rabbitTemplate = new RabbitTemplate();
 		}
+		rabbitTemplate.setMessageConverter(passThoughConverter);
 		rabbitTemplate.setChannelTransacted(properties.isTransacted());
 		rabbitTemplate.setConnectionFactory(this.connectionFactory);
 		rabbitTemplate.setUsePublisherConnection(true);
@@ -620,4 +628,30 @@ public class RabbitMessageChannelBinder
 		return stringWriter.getBuffer().toString();
 	}
 
+	private static final class SimplePassthroughMessageConverter extends AbstractMessageConverter {
+
+		private static final SimpleMessageConverter converter = new SimpleMessageConverter();
+
+		SimplePassthroughMessageConverter() {
+			super();
+		}
+
+		@Override
+		protected Message createMessage(Object object, MessageProperties messageProperties) {
+			if (object instanceof byte[]) {
+				return new Message((byte[]) object, messageProperties);
+			}
+			else {
+				// just for safety (backwards compatibility)
+				return converter.toMessage(object, messageProperties);
+			}
+		}
+
+		@Override
+		public Object fromMessage(Message message) throws MessageConversionException {
+			return message.getBody();
+		}
+
+	}
+
 }
diff --git a/spring-cloud-stream-binder-rabbit/src/test/java/org/springframework/cloud/stream/binder/rabbit/RabbitBinderTests.java b/spring-cloud-stream-binder-rabbit/src/test/java/org/springframework/cloud/stream/binder/rabbit/RabbitBinderTests.java
index 4e6293e90..0dbc62fb1 100644
--- a/spring-cloud-stream-binder-rabbit/src/test/java/org/springframework/cloud/stream/binder/rabbit/RabbitBinderTests.java
+++ b/spring-cloud-stream-binder-rabbit/src/test/java/org/springframework/cloud/stream/binder/rabbit/RabbitBinderTests.java
@@ -171,8 +171,14 @@ public class RabbitBinderTests extends
 		DirectChannel moduleInputChannel = createBindableChannel("input", new BindingProperties());
 		Binding<MessageChannel> producerBinding = binder.bindProducer("bad.0", moduleOutputChannel,
 				createProducerProperties());
+		assertThat(TestUtils.getPropertyValue(producerBinding, "lifecycle.headersMappedLast", Boolean.class))
+			.isTrue();
+		assertThat(TestUtils.getPropertyValue(producerBinding, "lifecycle.amqpTemplate.messageConverter")
+				.getClass().getName()).contains("Passthrough");
 		Binding<MessageChannel> consumerBinding = binder.bindConsumer("bad.0", "test", moduleInputChannel,
 				createConsumerProperties());
+		assertThat(TestUtils.getPropertyValue(consumerBinding, "lifecycle.messageConverter")
+				.getClass().getName()).contains("Passthrough");
 		Message<?> message = MessageBuilder.withPayload("bad".getBytes()).setHeader(MessageHeaders.CONTENT_TYPE, "foo/bar").build();
 		final CountDownLatch latch = new CountDownLatch(3);
 		moduleInputChannel.subscribe(new MessageHandler() {