diff --git a/akka-camel/src/main/scala/CamelService.scala b/akka-camel/src/main/scala/CamelService.scala
index 3795b8a7fb..b8aaacfe5b 100644
--- a/akka-camel/src/main/scala/CamelService.scala
+++ b/akka-camel/src/main/scala/CamelService.scala
@@ -25,25 +25,22 @@ trait CamelService extends Bootable with Logging {
   private[camel] val consumerPublisher = actorOf[ConsumerPublisher]
   private[camel] val publishRequestor =  actorOf[PublishRequestor]
 
-  // add listener for actor registration events
-  ActorRegistry.addListener(publishRequestor)
-
-  // add listener for AspectInit registration events
-  AspectInitRegistry.addListener(publishRequestor)
+  private val serviceEnabled = config.getBool("akka.camel.service", true)
 
   /**
    * Starts this CamelService unless <code>akka.camel.service</code> is set to <code>false</code>.
    */
   abstract override def onLoad = {
+    if (serviceEnabled) registerPublishRequestor
     super.onLoad
-    if (config.getBool("akka.camel.service", true)) start
+    if (serviceEnabled) start
   }
 
   /**
    * Stops this CamelService unless <code>akka.camel.service</code> is set to <code>false</code>.
    */
   abstract override def onUnload = {
-    if (config.getBool("akka.camel.service", true)) stop
+    if (serviceEnabled) stop
     super.onUnload
   }
 
@@ -62,6 +59,8 @@ trait CamelService extends Bootable with Logging {
    * on a remote node).
    */
   def start: CamelService = {
+    if (!publishRequestorRegistered) registerPublishRequestor
+
     // Only init and start if not already done by application
     if (!CamelContextManager.initialized) CamelContextManager.init
     if (!CamelContextManager.started) CamelContextManager.start
@@ -86,8 +85,7 @@ trait CamelService extends Bootable with Logging {
     CamelServiceManager.unregister(this)
 
     // Remove related listeners from registry
-    ActorRegistry.removeListener(publishRequestor)
-    AspectInitRegistry.removeListener(publishRequestor)
+    unregisterPublishRequestor
 
     // Stop related services
     consumerPublisher.stop
@@ -109,6 +107,21 @@ trait CamelService extends Bootable with Logging {
    */
   def expectEndpointDeactivationCount(count: Int): CountDownLatch =
     (consumerPublisher !! SetExpectedUnregistrationCount(count)).as[CountDownLatch].get
+
+  private[camel] def publishRequestorRegistered: Boolean = {
+    ActorRegistry.hasListener(publishRequestor) ||
+    AspectInitRegistry.hasListener(publishRequestor)
+  }
+
+  private[camel] def registerPublishRequestor: Unit = {
+    ActorRegistry.addListener(publishRequestor)
+    AspectInitRegistry.addListener(publishRequestor)
+  }
+
+  private[camel] def unregisterPublishRequestor: Unit = {
+    ActorRegistry.removeListener(publishRequestor)
+    AspectInitRegistry.removeListener(publishRequestor)
+  }
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/akka-camel/src/test/scala/ConsumerTest.scala b/akka-camel/src/test/scala/ConsumerTest.scala
index 0af8aec7d5..1a126e3d52 100644
--- a/akka-camel/src/test/scala/ConsumerTest.scala
+++ b/akka-camel/src/test/scala/ConsumerTest.scala
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ class ConsumerTest extends WordSpec with BeforeAndAfterAll with MustMatchers {
     ActorRegistry.shutdownAll
     // create new CamelService instance
     service = CamelServiceFactory.createCamelService
+    // Register publish requestor as listener
+    service.registerPublishRequestor
     // register test consumer before starting the CamelService
     actorOf(new TestConsumer("direct:publish-test-1")).start
     // start consumer publisher, otherwise we cannot set message