diff --git a/deps/rabbitmq_mqtt/src/rabbit_mqtt_processor.erl b/deps/rabbitmq_mqtt/src/rabbit_mqtt_processor.erl
index bc2d9733fb..d49c8c653c 100644
--- a/deps/rabbitmq_mqtt/src/rabbit_mqtt_processor.erl
+++ b/deps/rabbitmq_mqtt/src/rabbit_mqtt_processor.erl
@@ -804,7 +804,7 @@ check_subscribe([#mqtt_topic{name = TopicName} | Topics], Fn, PState) ->
     _ -> {err, unauthorized, PState}
   end.
 
-check_topic_access(TopicName, write = Access,
+check_topic_access(TopicName, Access,
                    #proc_state{
                         auth_state = #auth_state{user = User,
                                                  vhost = VHost},
@@ -823,24 +823,7 @@ check_topic_access(TopicName, write = Access,
         _:Error ->
             rabbit_log:error("~p~n", [Error]),
             {error, access_refused}
-    end;
-check_topic_access(TopicName, read = Access,
-                   #proc_state{
-                      auth_state = #auth_state{user = User,
-                                               vhost = VHost}}) ->
-  Resource = #resource{virtual_host = VHost,
-                       kind = topic,
-                       name = TopicName},
-  try rabbit_access_control:check_resource_access(User, Resource, Access) of
-      R -> R
-  catch
-      _:{amqp_error, access_refused, Msg, _} ->
-          rabbit_log:error("operation resulted in an error (access_refused): ~p~n", [Msg]),
-          {error, access_refused};
-      _:Error ->
-          rabbit_log:error("~p~n", [Error]),
-          {error, access_refused}
-  end.
+    end.
 
 info(consumer_tags, #proc_state{consumer_tags = Val}) -> Val;
 info(unacked_pubs, #proc_state{unacked_pubs = Val}) -> Val;
diff --git a/deps/rabbitmq_mqtt/test/java_SUITE.erl b/deps/rabbitmq_mqtt/test/java_SUITE.erl
index 1ce63ac0d3..81976bf29c 100644
--- a/deps/rabbitmq_mqtt/test/java_SUITE.erl
+++ b/deps/rabbitmq_mqtt/test/java_SUITE.erl
@@ -81,7 +81,10 @@ init_per_testcase(Testcase, Config) ->
     User = "O=client,CN=" ++ Hostname,
     {ok,_} = rabbit_ct_broker_helpers:rabbitmqctl(Config, 0, ["add_user", User, ""]),
     {ok, _} = rabbit_ct_broker_helpers:rabbitmqctl(Config, 0, ["set_permissions",  "-p", "/", User, ".*", ".*", ".*"]),
-    {ok, _} = rabbit_ct_broker_helpers:rabbitmqctl(Config, 0, ["set_topic_permissions",  "-p", "/", "guest", "amq.topic", "test-topic|test-retained-topic|.*mid.*|.*topic.*"]),
+    {ok, _} = rabbit_ct_broker_helpers:rabbitmqctl(Config, 0,
+        ["set_topic_permissions",  "-p", "/", "guest", "amq.topic",
+            "test-topic|test-retained-topic|.*mid.*|.*topic.*",
+            "test-topic|test-retained-topic|.*mid.*|.*topic.*"]),
     rabbit_ct_helpers:testcase_started(Config, Testcase).
 
 end_per_testcase(Testcase, Config) ->
diff --git a/deps/rabbitmq_mqtt/test/java_SUITE_data/src/test/java/com/rabbitmq/mqtt/test/MqttTest.java b/deps/rabbitmq_mqtt/test/java_SUITE_data/src/test/java/com/rabbitmq/mqtt/test/MqttTest.java
index 4cb55b1843..7daeb757a2 100644
--- a/deps/rabbitmq_mqtt/test/java_SUITE_data/src/test/java/com/rabbitmq/mqtt/test/MqttTest.java
+++ b/deps/rabbitmq_mqtt/test/java_SUITE_data/src/test/java/com/rabbitmq/mqtt/test/MqttTest.java
@@ -665,7 +665,7 @@ public class MqttTest implements MqttCallback {
         }
     }
 
-    @Test public void topicAuthorisation() throws Exception {
+    @Test public void topicAuthorisationPublish() throws Exception {
         client.connect(conOpt);
         client.setCallback(this);
         client.subscribe("some/topic");
@@ -681,6 +681,20 @@ public class MqttTest implements MqttCallback {
         }
     }
 
+    @Test public void topicAuthorisationSubscribe() throws Exception {
+        client.connect(conOpt);
+        client.setCallback(this);
+        client.subscribe("some/topic");
+        try {
+            client.subscribe("forbidden");
+            fail("Subscribing to a forbidden topic, an exception should have been thrown");
+            client.disconnect();
+        } catch(Exception e) {
+            // OK
+            e.printStackTrace();
+        }
+    }
+
     @Test public void interopM2A() throws MqttException, IOException, InterruptedException, TimeoutException {
         setUpAmqp();
         String queue = ch.queueDeclare().getQueue();