The exception handler either has to do this (using event), or inject the correct exceptionHandler into the child message processors that require it.  It is the exception handlers responsibility to setup this change in behaviour for child elements, not some external mechanism such as spring.  Because the external mechanism has huge issues i) it only works with spring ii) it has to be implemented on a case by case basis.  The be honest I prefer the later approach, for the EH to inject this into children somehow, that is of course more work..