diff --git a/components/camel-kamelet/src/generated/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletEndpointConfigurer.java b/components/camel-kamelet/src/generated/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletEndpointConfigurer.java
index dc0964d..cdbc56e 100644
--- a/components/camel-kamelet/src/generated/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletEndpointConfigurer.java
+++ b/components/camel-kamelet/src/generated/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletEndpointConfigurer.java
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
         map.put("exceptionHandler", org.apache.camel.spi.ExceptionHandler.class);
         map.put("exchangePattern", org.apache.camel.ExchangePattern.class);
         map.put("block", boolean.class);
+        map.put("failIfNoConsumers", boolean.class);
         map.put("kameletProperties", java.util.Map.class);
         map.put("lazyStartProducer", boolean.class);
         map.put("timeout", long.class);
@@ -45,6 +46,8 @@
         case "exceptionHandler": target.setExceptionHandler(property(camelContext, org.apache.camel.spi.ExceptionHandler.class, value)); return true;
         case "exchangepattern":
         case "exchangePattern": target.setExchangePattern(property(camelContext, org.apache.camel.ExchangePattern.class, value)); return true;
+        case "failifnoconsumers":
+        case "failIfNoConsumers": target.setFailIfNoConsumers(property(camelContext, boolean.class, value)); return true;
         case "kameletproperties":
         case "kameletProperties": target.setKameletProperties(property(camelContext, java.util.Map.class, value)); return true;
         case "lazystartproducer":
@@ -73,6 +76,8 @@
         case "exceptionHandler": return target.getExceptionHandler();
         case "exchangepattern":
         case "exchangePattern": return target.getExchangePattern();
+        case "failifnoconsumers":
+        case "failIfNoConsumers": return target.isFailIfNoConsumers();
         case "kameletproperties":
         case "kameletProperties": return target.getKameletProperties();
         case "lazystartproducer":
diff --git a/components/camel-kamelet/src/generated/resources/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/kamelet.json b/components/camel-kamelet/src/generated/resources/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/kamelet.json
index eff6911..91854be 100644
--- a/components/camel-kamelet/src/generated/resources/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/kamelet.json
+++ b/components/camel-kamelet/src/generated/resources/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/kamelet.json
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@
     "exceptionHandler": { "kind": "parameter", "displayName": "Exception Handler", "group": "consumer (advanced)", "label": "consumer,advanced", "required": false, "type": "object", "javaType": "org.apache.camel.spi.ExceptionHandler", "optionalPrefix": "consumer.", "deprecated": false, "secret": false, "description": "To let the consumer use a custom ExceptionHandler. Notice if the option bridgeErrorHandler is enabled then this option is not in use. By default the consumer will deal with exceptions, that will be logged at WARN or ERROR level and ignored." },
     "exchangePattern": { "kind": "parameter", "displayName": "Exchange Pattern", "group": "consumer (advanced)", "label": "consumer,advanced", "required": false, "type": "object", "javaType": "org.apache.camel.ExchangePattern", "enum": [ "InOnly", "InOut", "InOptionalOut" ], "deprecated": false, "secret": false, "description": "Sets the exchange pattern when the consumer creates an exchange." },
     "block": { "kind": "parameter", "displayName": "Block", "group": "producer", "label": "producer", "required": false, "type": "boolean", "javaType": "boolean", "deprecated": false, "secret": false, "defaultValue": true, "description": "If sending a message to a direct endpoint which has no active consumer, then we can tell the producer to block and wait for the consumer to become active." },
-    "kameletProperties": { "kind": "parameter", "displayName": "Kamelet Properties", "group": "producer", "label": "producer", "required": false, "type": "object", "javaType": "java.util.Map<java.lang.String, java.lang.Object>", "deprecated": false, "secret": false, "defaultValue": "true", "description": "Custom properties for kamelet" },
+    "failIfNoConsumers": { "kind": "parameter", "displayName": "Fail If No Consumers", "group": "producer", "label": "producer", "required": false, "type": "boolean", "javaType": "boolean", "deprecated": false, "secret": false, "defaultValue": true, "description": "Whether the producer should fail by throwing an exception, when sending to a kamelet endpoint with no active consumers." },
+    "kameletProperties": { "kind": "parameter", "displayName": "Kamelet Properties", "group": "producer", "label": "producer", "required": false, "type": "object", "javaType": "java.util.Map<java.lang.String, java.lang.Object>", "deprecated": false, "secret": false, "description": "Custom properties for kamelet" },
     "lazyStartProducer": { "kind": "parameter", "displayName": "Lazy Start Producer", "group": "producer", "label": "producer", "required": false, "type": "boolean", "javaType": "boolean", "deprecated": false, "secret": false, "defaultValue": false, "description": "Whether the producer should be started lazy (on the first message). By starting lazy you can use this to allow CamelContext and routes to startup in situations where a producer may otherwise fail during starting and cause the route to fail being started. By deferring this startup to be lazy then the startup failure can be handled during routing messages via Camel's routing error handlers. Beware that when the first message is processed then creating and starting the producer may take a little time and prolong the total processing time of the processing." },
     "timeout": { "kind": "parameter", "displayName": "Timeout", "group": "producer", "label": "producer", "required": false, "type": "integer", "javaType": "long", "deprecated": false, "secret": false, "defaultValue": 30000, "description": "The timeout value to use if block is enabled." },
     "basicPropertyBinding": { "kind": "parameter", "displayName": "Basic Property Binding", "group": "advanced", "label": "advanced", "required": false, "type": "boolean", "javaType": "boolean", "deprecated": false, "secret": false, "defaultValue": false, "description": "Whether the endpoint should use basic property binding (Camel 2.x) or the newer property binding with additional capabilities" },
diff --git a/components/camel-kamelet/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletComponent.java b/components/camel-kamelet/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletComponent.java
index 7f243af..271b261 100644
--- a/components/camel-kamelet/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletComponent.java
+++ b/components/camel-kamelet/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletComponent.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 
 import java.net.URI;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Properties;
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@
 import org.apache.camel.support.DefaultEndpoint;
 import org.apache.camel.support.LifecycleStrategySupport;
 import org.apache.camel.support.service.ServiceHelper;
+import org.apache.camel.util.StopWatch;
 import org.apache.camel.util.URISupport;
 import org.apache.camel.util.UnsafeUriCharactersEncoder;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
@@ -54,8 +56,15 @@
 public class KameletComponent extends DefaultComponent {
     private static final Logger LOGGER = LoggerFactory.getLogger(KameletComponent.class);
 
-    private final Map<String, KameletConsumer> consumers;
-    private final LifecycleHandler lifecycleHandler;
+    // active consumers
+    private final Map<String, KameletConsumer> consumers = new HashMap<>();
+    // counter that is used for producers to keep track if any consumer was added/removed since they last checked
+    // this is used for optimization to avoid each producer to get consumer for each message processed
+    // (locking via synchronized, and then lookup in the map as the cost)
+    // consumers and producers are only added/removed during startup/shutdown or if routes is manually controlled
+    private volatile int stateCounter;
+
+    private final LifecycleHandler lifecycleHandler = new LifecycleHandler();
 
     @Metadata(label = "producer", defaultValue = "true")
     private boolean block = true;
@@ -63,8 +72,6 @@
     private long timeout = 30000L;
 
     public KameletComponent() {
-        this.lifecycleHandler = new LifecycleHandler();
-        this.consumers = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -194,7 +201,7 @@
             // Note that at the moment, there's no enforcement around `source`
             // and `sink' to be defined on the right side (producer or consumer)
             //
-            endpoint = new KameletEndpoint(uri, this, templateId, routeId, consumers);
+            endpoint = new KameletEndpoint(uri, this, templateId, routeId);
 
             // forward component properties
             endpoint.setBlock(block);
@@ -203,7 +210,7 @@
             // set endpoint specific properties
             setProperties(endpoint, parameters);
         } else {
-            endpoint = new KameletEndpoint(uri, this, templateId, routeId, consumers) {
+            endpoint = new KameletEndpoint(uri, this, templateId, routeId) {
                 @Override
                 protected void doInit() throws Exception {
                     super.doInit();
@@ -266,6 +273,53 @@
         this.timeout = timeout;
     }
 
+    int getStateCounter() {
+        return stateCounter;
+    }
+
+    public void addConsumer(String key, KameletConsumer consumer) {
+        synchronized (consumers) {
+            if (consumers.putIfAbsent(key, consumer) != null) {
+                throw new IllegalArgumentException(
+                        "Cannot add a 2nd consumer to the same endpoint: " + key
+                                + ". KameletEndpoint only allows one consumer.");
+            }
+            // state changed so inc counter
+            stateCounter++;
+            consumers.notifyAll();
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void removeConsumer(String key, KameletConsumer consumer) {
+        synchronized (consumers) {
+            consumers.remove(key, consumer);
+            // state changed so inc counter
+            stateCounter++;
+            consumers.notifyAll();
+        }
+    }
+
+    protected KameletConsumer getConsumer(String key, boolean block, long timeout) throws InterruptedException {
+        synchronized (consumers) {
+            KameletConsumer answer = consumers.get(key);
+            if (answer == null && block) {
+                StopWatch watch = new StopWatch();
+                for (;;) {
+                    answer = consumers.get(key);
+                    if (answer != null) {
+                        break;
+                    }
+                    long rem = timeout - watch.taken();
+                    if (rem <= 0) {
+                        break;
+                    }
+                    consumers.wait(rem);
+                }
+            }
+            return answer;
+        }
+    }
+
     @Override
     protected void doInit() throws Exception {
         getCamelContext().addLifecycleStrategy(lifecycleHandler);
@@ -278,13 +332,12 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    protected void doStop() throws Exception {
+    protected void doShutdown() throws Exception {
         getCamelContext().getLifecycleStrategies().remove(lifecycleHandler);
 
-        ServiceHelper.stopService(consumers.values());
+        ServiceHelper.stopAndShutdownService(consumers);
         consumers.clear();
-
-        super.doStop();
+        super.doShutdown();
     }
 
     /*
diff --git a/components/camel-kamelet/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletConsumer.java b/components/camel-kamelet/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletConsumer.java
index c99d56c..36123de 100644
--- a/components/camel-kamelet/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletConsumer.java
+++ b/components/camel-kamelet/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletConsumer.java
@@ -23,8 +23,14 @@
 import org.apache.camel.support.DefaultConsumer;
 
 final class KameletConsumer extends DefaultConsumer implements ShutdownAware, Suspendable {
-    public KameletConsumer(KameletEndpoint endpoint, Processor processor) {
+
+    private final KameletComponent component;
+    private final String key;
+
+    public KameletConsumer(KameletEndpoint endpoint, Processor processor, String key) {
         super(endpoint, processor);
+        this.component = endpoint.getComponent();
+        this.key = key;
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -34,22 +40,25 @@
 
     @Override
     protected void doStart() throws Exception {
-        getEndpoint().addConsumer(this);
+        super.doStart();
+        component.addConsumer(key, this);
     }
 
     @Override
     protected void doStop() throws Exception {
-        getEndpoint().removeConsumer(this);
+        component.removeConsumer(key, this);
+        super.doStop();
     }
 
     @Override
     protected void doSuspend() throws Exception {
-        getEndpoint().removeConsumer(this);
+        component.removeConsumer(key, this);
     }
 
     @Override
     protected void doResume() throws Exception {
-        getEndpoint().addConsumer(this);
+        // resume by using the start logic
+        component.addConsumer(key, this);
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/components/camel-kamelet/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletConsumerNotAvailableException.java b/components/camel-kamelet/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletConsumerNotAvailableException.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..44f1f4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/camel-kamelet/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletConsumerNotAvailableException.java
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+/*
+ * Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one or more
+ * contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file distributed with
+ * this work for additional information regarding copyright ownership.
+ * The ASF licenses this file to You under the Apache License, Version 2.0
+ * (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with
+ * the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.apache.camel.component.kamelet;
+
+import org.apache.camel.CamelExchangeException;
+import org.apache.camel.Exchange;
+
+public class KameletConsumerNotAvailableException extends CamelExchangeException {
+
+    public KameletConsumerNotAvailableException(String message, Exchange exchange) {
+        super(message, exchange);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/components/camel-kamelet/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletEndpoint.java b/components/camel-kamelet/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletEndpoint.java
index c3760f3..415fba7 100644
--- a/components/camel-kamelet/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletEndpoint.java
+++ b/components/camel-kamelet/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletEndpoint.java
@@ -30,20 +30,22 @@
 import org.apache.camel.spi.UriPath;
 import org.apache.camel.support.DefaultEndpoint;
 import org.apache.camel.util.ObjectHelper;
-import org.apache.camel.util.StopWatch;
 
 @UriEndpoint(
-    firstVersion = "3.5.0",
-    scheme = "kamelet",
-    syntax = "kamelet:templateId/routeId",
-    title = "Kamelet",
-    lenientProperties = true,
-    category = Category.CORE)
+        firstVersion = "3.5.0",
+        scheme = "kamelet",
+        syntax = "kamelet:templateId/routeId",
+        title = "Kamelet",
+        lenientProperties = true,
+        category = Category.CORE)
 public class KameletEndpoint extends DefaultEndpoint {
+
+    private final String key;
+
     @Metadata(required = true)
     @UriPath(description = "The Route Template ID")
     private final String templateId;
-    @Metadata(required = false)
+    @Metadata
     @UriPath(description = "The Route ID", defaultValueNote = "The ID will be auto-generated if not provided")
     private final String routeId;
 
@@ -51,18 +53,16 @@
     private boolean block = true;
     @UriParam(label = "producer", defaultValue = "30000")
     private long timeout = 30000L;
-    @UriParam(label = "producer", defaultValue = "true")
-
+    @UriParam(label = "producer")
     private final Map<String, Object> kameletProperties;
-    private final Map<String, KameletConsumer> consumers;
-    private final String key;
+    @UriParam(label = "producer", defaultValue = "true")
+    private boolean failIfNoConsumers = true;
 
     public KameletEndpoint(
             String uri,
             KameletComponent component,
             String templateId,
-            String routeId,
-            Map<String, KameletConsumer> consumers) {
+            String routeId) {
 
         super(uri, component);
 
@@ -73,7 +73,6 @@
         this.routeId = routeId;
         this.key = templateId + "/" + routeId;
         this.kameletProperties = new HashMap<>();
-        this.consumers = consumers;
     }
 
     public boolean isBlock() {
@@ -101,6 +100,18 @@
         this.timeout = timeout;
     }
 
+    public boolean isFailIfNoConsumers() {
+        return failIfNoConsumers;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Whether the producer should fail by throwing an exception, when sending to a kamelet endpoint with no active
+     * consumers.
+     */
+    public void setFailIfNoConsumers(boolean failIfNoConsumers) {
+        this.failIfNoConsumers = failIfNoConsumers;
+    }
+
     @Override
     public KameletComponent getComponent() {
         return (KameletComponent) super.getComponent();
@@ -140,58 +151,14 @@
 
     @Override
     public Producer createProducer() throws Exception {
-        return new KameletProducer(this);
+        return new KameletProducer(this, key);
     }
 
     @Override
     public Consumer createConsumer(Processor processor) throws Exception {
-        Consumer answer = new KameletConsumer(this, processor);
+        Consumer answer = new KameletConsumer(this, processor, key);
         configureConsumer(answer);
         return answer;
     }
 
-    // *********************************
-    //
-    // Helpers
-    //
-    // *********************************
-
-    void addConsumer(KameletConsumer consumer) {
-        synchronized (consumers) {
-            if (consumers.putIfAbsent(key, consumer) != null) {
-                throw new IllegalArgumentException(
-                    "Cannot add a 2nd consumer to the same endpoint. Endpoint " + this + " only allows one consumer.");
-            }
-            consumers.notifyAll();
-        }
-    }
-
-    void removeConsumer(KameletConsumer consumer) {
-        synchronized (consumers) {
-            consumers.remove(key, consumer);
-            consumers.notifyAll();
-        }
-    }
-
-    KameletConsumer getConsumer() throws InterruptedException {
-        synchronized (consumers) {
-            KameletConsumer answer = consumers.get(key);
-            if (answer == null && block) {
-                StopWatch watch = new StopWatch();
-                for (; ; ) {
-                    answer =consumers.get(key);
-                    if (answer != null) {
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    long rem = timeout - watch.taken();
-                    if (rem <= 0) {
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    consumers.wait(rem);
-                }
-            }
-
-            return answer;
-        }
-    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/components/camel-kamelet/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletProducer.java b/components/camel-kamelet/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletProducer.java
index 10bd42c..726c22d 100644
--- a/components/camel-kamelet/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletProducer.java
+++ b/components/camel-kamelet/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/component/kamelet/KameletProducer.java
@@ -17,49 +17,68 @@
 package org.apache.camel.component.kamelet;
 
 import org.apache.camel.AsyncCallback;
-import org.apache.camel.CamelExchangeException;
 import org.apache.camel.Exchange;
 import org.apache.camel.support.DefaultAsyncProducer;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
 final class KameletProducer extends DefaultAsyncProducer {
-    public KameletProducer(KameletEndpoint endpoint) {
-        super(endpoint);
-    }
 
-    @Override
-    public KameletEndpoint getEndpoint() {
-        return (KameletEndpoint)super.getEndpoint();
+    private static final Logger LOG = LoggerFactory.getLogger(KameletProducer.class);
+
+    private volatile KameletConsumer consumer;
+    private int stateCounter;
+
+    private final KameletEndpoint endpoint;
+    private final KameletComponent component;
+    private final String key;
+    private final boolean block;
+    private final long timeout;
+
+    public KameletProducer(KameletEndpoint endpoint, String key) {
+        super(endpoint);
+        this.endpoint = endpoint;
+        this.component = endpoint.getComponent();
+        this.key = key;
+        this.block = endpoint.isBlock();
+        this.timeout = endpoint.getTimeout();
     }
 
     @Override
     public void process(Exchange exchange) throws Exception {
-        final KameletConsumer consumer = getEndpoint().getConsumer();
-
-        if (consumer != null) {
-            consumer.getProcessor().process(exchange);
+        if (consumer == null || stateCounter != component.getStateCounter()) {
+            stateCounter = component.getStateCounter();
+            consumer = component.getConsumer(key, block, timeout);
+        }
+        if (consumer == null) {
+            if (endpoint.isFailIfNoConsumers()) {
+                throw new KameletConsumerNotAvailableException("No consumers available on endpoint: " + endpoint, exchange);
+            } else {
+                LOG.debug("message ignored, no consumers available on endpoint: {}", endpoint);
+            }
         } else {
-            exchange.setException(
-                new CamelExchangeException(
-                    "No consumers available on endpoint: " + getEndpoint(), exchange)
-            );
+            consumer.getProcessor().process(exchange);
         }
     }
 
     @Override
     public boolean process(Exchange exchange, AsyncCallback callback) {
         try {
-            final KameletConsumer consumer = getEndpoint().getConsumer();
-
-            if (consumer != null) {
-                return consumer.getAsyncProcessor().process(exchange, callback);
-            } else {
-                exchange.setException(
-                    new CamelExchangeException(
-                        "No consumers available on endpoint: " + getEndpoint(), exchange)
-                );
-
+            if (consumer == null || stateCounter != component.getStateCounter()) {
+                stateCounter = component.getStateCounter();
+                consumer = component.getConsumer(key, block, timeout);
+            }
+            if (consumer == null) {
+                if (endpoint.isFailIfNoConsumers()) {
+                    exchange.setException(new KameletConsumerNotAvailableException(
+                            "No consumers available on endpoint: " + endpoint, exchange));
+                } else {
+                    LOG.debug("message ignored, no consumers available on endpoint: {}", endpoint);
+                }
                 callback.done(true);
                 return true;
+            } else {
+                return consumer.getAsyncProcessor().process(exchange, callback);
             }
         } catch (Exception e) {
             exchange.setException(e);
@@ -67,4 +86,5 @@
             return true;
         }
     }
+
 }