diff --git a/Source/MQTTnet/Client/MqttClient.cs b/Source/MQTTnet/Client/MqttClient.cs
index 45b99c88..a09f6b53 100644
--- a/Source/MQTTnet/Client/MqttClient.cs
+++ b/Source/MQTTnet/Client/MqttClient.cs
@@ -510,25 +510,27 @@ namespace MQTTnet.Client
                 }
                 else if (publishPacket.QualityOfServiceLevel == MqttQualityOfServiceLevel.AtLeastOnce)
                 {
-                    await HandleReceivedApplicationMessageAsync(publishPacket).ConfigureAwait(false);
-
-                    await SendAsync(new MqttPubAckPacket
+                    if (await HandleReceivedApplicationMessageAsync(publishPacket).ConfigureAwait(false))
                     {
-                        PacketIdentifier = publishPacket.PacketIdentifier,
-                        ReasonCode = MqttPubAckReasonCode.Success
-                    }, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+                        await SendAsync(new MqttPubAckPacket
+                        {
+                            PacketIdentifier = publishPacket.PacketIdentifier,
+                            ReasonCode = MqttPubAckReasonCode.Success
+                        }, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+                    }
                 }
                 else if (publishPacket.QualityOfServiceLevel == MqttQualityOfServiceLevel.ExactlyOnce)
                 {
-                    await HandleReceivedApplicationMessageAsync(publishPacket).ConfigureAwait(false);
-
-                    var pubRecPacket = new MqttPubRecPacket
+                    if (await HandleReceivedApplicationMessageAsync(publishPacket).ConfigureAwait(false))
                     {
-                        PacketIdentifier = publishPacket.PacketIdentifier,
-                        ReasonCode = MqttPubRecReasonCode.Success
-                    };
+                        var pubRecPacket = new MqttPubRecPacket
+                        {
+                            PacketIdentifier = publishPacket.PacketIdentifier,
+                            ReasonCode = MqttPubRecReasonCode.Success
+                        };
 
-                    await SendAsync(pubRecPacket, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+                        await SendAsync(pubRecPacket, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+                    }                    
                 }
                 else
                 {
@@ -572,18 +574,19 @@ namespace MQTTnet.Client
             return _adapter.PacketFormatterAdapter.DataConverter.CreatePublishResult(pubRecPacket, pubCompPacket);
         }
 
-        private Task HandleReceivedApplicationMessageAsync(MqttPublishPacket publishPacket)
+        private async Task<bool> HandleReceivedApplicationMessageAsync(MqttPublishPacket publishPacket)
         {
             var applicationMessage = _adapter.PacketFormatterAdapter.DataConverter.CreateApplicationMessage(publishPacket);
 
             var handler = ApplicationMessageReceivedHandler;
             if (handler != null)
             {
-                return handler.HandleApplicationMessageReceivedAsync(
-                    new MqttApplicationMessageReceivedEventArgs(Options.ClientId, applicationMessage));
+                var eventArgs = new MqttApplicationMessageReceivedEventArgs(Options.ClientId, applicationMessage);
+                await handler.HandleApplicationMessageReceivedAsync(eventArgs).ConfigureAwait(false);
+                return !eventArgs.ProcessingFailed;
             }
 
-            return Task.FromResult(0);
+            return true;
         }
 
         private static async Task WaitForTaskAsync(Task task, Task sender)
diff --git a/Source/MQTTnet/MqttApplicationMessageReceivedEventArgs.cs b/Source/MQTTnet/MqttApplicationMessageReceivedEventArgs.cs
index e81c69a9..6fbaa933 100644
--- a/Source/MQTTnet/MqttApplicationMessageReceivedEventArgs.cs
+++ b/Source/MQTTnet/MqttApplicationMessageReceivedEventArgs.cs
@@ -13,5 +13,7 @@ namespace MQTTnet
         public string ClientId { get; }
 
         public MqttApplicationMessage ApplicationMessage { get; }
+
+        public bool ProcessingFailed { get; set; }
     }
 }