diff --git a/spring-kafka/src/main/java/org/springframework/kafka/listener/AbstractMessageListenerContainer.java b/spring-kafka/src/main/java/org/springframework/kafka/listener/AbstractMessageListenerContainer.java
index 5d5c600ff9..10fbc537dd 100644
--- a/spring-kafka/src/main/java/org/springframework/kafka/listener/AbstractMessageListenerContainer.java
+++ b/spring-kafka/src/main/java/org/springframework/kafka/listener/AbstractMessageListenerContainer.java
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ public final void start() {
 		synchronized (this.lifecycleMonitor) {
 			if (!isRunning()) {
 				Assert.isTrue(
-						this.containerProperties.getMessageListener() instanceof GenericMessageListener,
+						this.containerProperties.getMessageListener() instanceof KafkaDataListener,
 						"A " + GenericMessageListener.class.getName() + " implementation must be provided");
 				doStart();
 			}