diff --git a/src/org/jgroups/BaseMessage.java b/src/org/jgroups/BaseMessage.java
index 0c6cf68655..7c089ab8c6 100644
--- a/src/org/jgroups/BaseMessage.java
+++ b/src/org/jgroups/BaseMessage.java
@@ -224,6 +224,8 @@ public String toString() {
                              transient_flags > 0? ", transient_flags=" + Util.transientFlagsToString(transient_flags) : "");
     }
 
+    protected abstract int payloadSize();
+
     public int serializedSize() {
         return size();
     }
@@ -238,6 +240,19 @@ public int size() {
 
         retval+=Global.SHORT_SIZE;  // number of headers
         retval+=Headers.marshalledSize(this.headers);
+        retval+=payloadSize();
+        return retval;
+    }
+
+    public int sizeNoAddrs(Address src) {
+        int retval=Global.BYTE_SIZE // leading byte
+          + Global.SHORT_SIZE;      // flags
+        if(sender != null && !sender.equals(src))
+            retval+=Util.size(sender);
+
+        retval+=Global.SHORT_SIZE;  // number of headers
+        retval+=Headers.marshalledSize(this.headers);
+        retval+=payloadSize();
         return retval;
     }
 
@@ -274,7 +289,7 @@ public void writeTo(DataOutput out) throws IOException {
     public void writeToNoAddrs(Address src, DataOutput out) throws IOException {
         byte leading=0;
 
-        boolean write_src_addr=src == null || sender != null && !sender.equals(src);
+        boolean write_src_addr=sender != null && !sender.equals(src);
 
         if(write_src_addr)
             leading=Util.setFlag(leading, SRC_SET);
@@ -340,6 +355,4 @@ protected Message copyPayload(Message copy) {
     protected static Header[] createHeaders(int size) {
         return size > 0? new Header[size] : new Header[Util.DEFAULT_HEADERS];
     }
-
-
 }
diff --git a/src/org/jgroups/BatchMessage.java b/src/org/jgroups/BatchMessage.java
index 5a0977c0a1..49fd2c8ab5 100644
--- a/src/org/jgroups/BatchMessage.java
+++ b/src/org/jgroups/BatchMessage.java
@@ -118,12 +118,12 @@ public String toString() {
         return String.format("%s, %d message(s)", super.toString(), getNumberOfMessages());
     }
 
-    public int size() {
-        int retval=super.size() + Global.INT_SIZE;
+    @Override protected int payloadSize() {
+        int retval=Global.INT_SIZE; // count
         retval+=Util.size(orig_src);
         if(msgs != null) {
             for(int i=0; i < index; i++)
-                retval+=msgs[i].size() + Global.SHORT_SIZE; // type
+                retval+=msgs[i].sizeNoAddrs(getSrc()) + Global.SHORT_SIZE; // type
         }
         return retval;
     }
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ public void writePayload(DataOutput out) throws IOException {
             for(int i=0; i < index; i++) {
                 Message msg=msgs[i];
                 out.writeShort(msg.getType());
-                msg.writeToNoAddrs(this.src(), out);
+                msg.writeToNoAddrs(getSrc(), out);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/org/jgroups/BytesMessage.java b/src/org/jgroups/BytesMessage.java
index eb64b384a5..584ff1e4d0 100644
--- a/src/org/jgroups/BytesMessage.java
+++ b/src/org/jgroups/BytesMessage.java
@@ -233,12 +233,6 @@ public <T extends Object> T getObject(ClassLoader loader) {
         }
     }
 
-
-    public int size() {
-        return super.size() +sizeOfPayload();
-    }
-
-
     /**
      * Copies the byte array. If offset and length are used (to refer to another array), the copy will contain only
      * the subset that offset and length point to, copying the subset into the new copy.<p/>
@@ -252,7 +246,7 @@ public int size() {
         return copy;
     }
 
-    protected int sizeOfPayload() {
+    @Override protected int payloadSize() {
         int retval=Global.INT_SIZE; // length
         if(array != null)
             retval+=length;         // number of bytes in the array
diff --git a/src/org/jgroups/CompositeMessage.java b/src/org/jgroups/CompositeMessage.java
index 3a960f9fd1..9299f8bea3 100644
--- a/src/org/jgroups/CompositeMessage.java
+++ b/src/org/jgroups/CompositeMessage.java
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 
 
 import org.jgroups.util.ByteArray;
-
 import java.io.DataInput;
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
@@ -118,11 +117,11 @@ public String toString() {
         return String.format("%s, %d message(s)", super.toString(), getNumberOfMessages());
     }
 
-    public int size() {
-        int retval=super.size() + Global.INT_SIZE; // length
+    @Override protected int payloadSize() {
+        int retval=Global.INT_SIZE; // count
         if(msgs != null) {
             for(int i=0; i < index; i++)
-                retval+=msgs[i].size() + Global.SHORT_SIZE; // type
+                retval+=msgs[i].sizeNoAddrs(getSrc()) + Global.SHORT_SIZE; // type
         }
         return retval;
     }
@@ -142,8 +141,7 @@ public void writePayload(DataOutput out) throws IOException {
             for(int i=0; i < index; i++) {
                 Message msg=msgs[i];
                 out.writeShort(msg.getType());
-                // msg.writeToNoAddrs(src(), out);
-                msg.writeTo(out);
+                msg.writeToNoAddrs(getSrc(), out);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -156,7 +154,7 @@ public void readPayload(DataInput in) throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException
                 short type=in.readShort();
                 Message msg=MessageFactory.create(type).setDest(getDest());
                 if(msg.getSrc() == null)
-                    msg.setSrc(src());
+                    msg.setSrc(getSrc());
                 msg.readFrom(in);
                 msgs[i]=msg;
             }
diff --git a/src/org/jgroups/EmptyMessage.java b/src/org/jgroups/EmptyMessage.java
index 80b1457e35..9e09e499df 100644
--- a/src/org/jgroups/EmptyMessage.java
+++ b/src/org/jgroups/EmptyMessage.java
@@ -40,4 +40,6 @@ public void                  writePayload(DataOutput out) throws IOException {
     public void                  readPayload(DataInput in) throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException {
         // no payload to read
     }
+
+    protected int                payloadSize() { return 0; }
 }
diff --git a/src/org/jgroups/FragmentedMessage.java b/src/org/jgroups/FragmentedMessage.java
index 63be9f9441..9266b10227 100644
--- a/src/org/jgroups/FragmentedMessage.java
+++ b/src/org/jgroups/FragmentedMessage.java
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ public FragmentedMessage(Message original_msg, int off, int len) {
     public boolean           hasArray()           {return false;}
     public boolean           hasPayload()         {return true;}
     public Supplier<Message> create()             {return FragmentedMessage::new;}
-    protected int            sizeOfPayload()      {return Global.INT_SIZE + length;}
+    protected int            payloadSize()        {return Global.INT_SIZE + length;}
 
     @Override
     protected Message copyPayload(Message copy) {
diff --git a/src/org/jgroups/LongMessage.java b/src/org/jgroups/LongMessage.java
index 53706c704d..f9cb845dad 100644
--- a/src/org/jgroups/LongMessage.java
+++ b/src/org/jgroups/LongMessage.java
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ public void readPayload(DataInput in) throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException
         value=Bits.readLongCompressed(in);
     }
 
-    public int size() {
-        return super.size() + Bits.size(value);
+    @Override protected int payloadSize() {
+        return Bits.size(value);
     }
 
     public String toString() {
diff --git a/src/org/jgroups/Message.java b/src/org/jgroups/Message.java
index 30270d0a46..2070d0e62e 100644
--- a/src/org/jgroups/Message.java
+++ b/src/org/jgroups/Message.java
@@ -197,13 +197,15 @@ default Message      setFlag(short flag, boolean transient_flags) {
      */
     Message              setPayload(Object pl);
 
-
     /**
      * Returns the exact size of the marshalled message
      * @return The number of bytes for the marshalled message
      */
     int                  size();
 
+    /** Returns the exact size of the marshalled message without destination (and possibly source) address */
+    int                  sizeNoAddrs(Address src);
+
     /** Writes the message to an output stream excluding the destination (and possibly source) address */
     void                 writeToNoAddrs(Address src, DataOutput out) throws IOException;
 
diff --git a/src/org/jgroups/NioMessage.java b/src/org/jgroups/NioMessage.java
index 32a0b48257..01576eb86a 100644
--- a/src/org/jgroups/NioMessage.java
+++ b/src/org/jgroups/NioMessage.java
@@ -179,8 +179,6 @@ public NioMessage copy(boolean copy_payload, boolean copy_headers) {
 
     /* ----------------------------------- Interface Streamable  ------------------------------- */
 
-    public int size() {return super.size() +sizeOfPayload();}
-
     public String toString() {
         return String.format("%s %s", super.toString(), use_direct_memory_for_allocations? "(direct)" : "");
     }
@@ -191,7 +189,7 @@ public String toString() {
         return copy;
     }
 
-    protected int sizeOfPayload() {
+    @Override protected int payloadSize() {
         return Global.INT_SIZE + getLength() + Global.BYTE_SIZE; // for use_direct_memory_for_allocations
     }
 
diff --git a/src/org/jgroups/ObjectMessage.java b/src/org/jgroups/ObjectMessage.java
index ea0d65e865..70645919c8 100644
--- a/src/org/jgroups/ObjectMessage.java
+++ b/src/org/jgroups/ObjectMessage.java
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ public ObjectMessage(Address dest, SizeStreamable obj) {
     public boolean           hasPayload()                         {return obj != null;}
     public boolean           hasArray()                           {return false;}
     public int               getOffset()                          {return 0;}
-    public int               getLength()                          {return obj != null? objSize() : 0;}
+    public int               getLength()                          {return obj != null? payloadSize() : 0;}
     public byte[]            getArray()                           {throw new UnsupportedOperationException();}
     public ObjectMessage     setArray(byte[] b, int off, int len) {throw new UnsupportedOperationException();}
     public ObjectMessage     setArray(ByteArray buf)              {throw new UnsupportedOperationException();}
@@ -132,10 +132,6 @@ public <T extends Object> T getObject() {
         return isWrapped() || obj instanceof ObjectWrapperPrimitive? ((ObjectWrapperPrimitive)obj).getObject() : (T)obj;
     }
 
-    public int size() {
-        return super.size() + objSize();
-    }
-
     public void writePayload(DataOutput out) throws IOException {
         Util.writeGenericStreamable(obj, out);
     }
@@ -157,7 +153,7 @@ public String toString() {
         return super.toString() + String.format(", obj: %s", obj);
     }
 
-    protected int objSize() {
+    @Override protected int payloadSize() {
         return Util.size(obj);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/org/jgroups/protocols/RingBufferBundler.java b/src/org/jgroups/protocols/RingBufferBundler.java
index b0b48bf63c..40f753c25f 100644
--- a/src/org/jgroups/protocols/RingBufferBundler.java
+++ b/src/org/jgroups/protocols/RingBufferBundler.java
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ protected int marshalMessagesToSameDestination(Address dest, Message[] buf, int
             if(msg != null && Objects.equals(dest, msg.getDest())) {
                 if(list != null)
                     list.add(msg);
-                int size=msg.size() + Global.SHORT_SIZE;
+                int size=msg.sizeNoAddrs(msg.getSrc()) + Global.SHORT_SIZE;
                 if(bytes + size > max_bundle_size)
                     break;
                 bytes+=size;
diff --git a/src/org/jgroups/protocols/RingBufferBundlerLockless.java b/src/org/jgroups/protocols/RingBufferBundlerLockless.java
index 0540ba8fdb..6bea7b1afb 100644
--- a/src/org/jgroups/protocols/RingBufferBundlerLockless.java
+++ b/src/org/jgroups/protocols/RingBufferBundlerLockless.java
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ protected int marshalMessagesToSameDestination(Address dest, Message[] buf,
         while(available_msgs > 0) {
             Message msg=buf[start_index];
             if(msg != null && Objects.equals(dest, msg.getDest())) {
-                int msg_size=msg.size() + Global.SHORT_SIZE;;
+                int msg_size=msg.sizeNoAddrs(msg.getSrc()) + Global.SHORT_SIZE;
                 if(bytes + msg_size > max_bundle_size)
                     break;
                 bytes+=msg_size;
diff --git a/src/org/jgroups/protocols/RingBufferBundlerLockless2.java b/src/org/jgroups/protocols/RingBufferBundlerLockless2.java
index 02c6e1eeb3..4e1f4bc7c8 100644
--- a/src/org/jgroups/protocols/RingBufferBundlerLockless2.java
+++ b/src/org/jgroups/protocols/RingBufferBundlerLockless2.java
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ protected int marshalMessagesToSameDestination(Address dest, Message[] buf, fina
         for(int i=start_index; i != end_index; i=increment(i)) {
             Message msg=buf[i];
             if(msg != null && msg != NULL_MSG && Objects.equals(dest, msg.getDest())) {
-                int msg_size=msg.size() + Global.SHORT_SIZE;
+                int msg_size=msg.sizeNoAddrs(msg.getSrc()) + Global.SHORT_SIZE;
                 if(bytes + msg_size > max_bundle_size)
                     break;
                 bytes+=msg_size;
diff --git a/tests/junit-functional/org/jgroups/tests/MessageFactoryTest.java b/tests/junit-functional/org/jgroups/tests/MessageFactoryTest.java
index 2154d9b532..0c798b6200 100644
--- a/tests/junit-functional/org/jgroups/tests/MessageFactoryTest.java
+++ b/tests/junit-functional/org/jgroups/tests/MessageFactoryTest.java
@@ -87,5 +87,9 @@ public void writePayload(DataOutput out) throws IOException {
 
         public void readPayload(DataInput in) throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException {
         }
+
+        protected int payloadSize() {
+            return 0;
+        }
     }
 }