diff --git a/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/codec/protobuf/ProtobufDecoder.java b/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/codec/protobuf/ProtobufDecoder.java
index cb35f272dbe..8869abfb2f6 100644
--- a/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/codec/protobuf/ProtobufDecoder.java
+++ b/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/codec/protobuf/ProtobufDecoder.java
@@ -129,13 +129,22 @@ public class ProtobufDecoder extends ProtobufCodecSupport implements Decoder<Mes
 	public Flux<Message> decode(Publisher<DataBuffer> inputStream, ResolvableType elementType,
 			@Nullable MimeType mimeType, @Nullable Map<String, Object> hints) {
 
-		MessageDecoderFunction decoderFunction = new MessageDecoderFunction(elementType, this.maxMessageSize);
+		MessageDecoderFunction decoderFunction =
+				new MessageDecoderFunction(elementType, this.maxMessageSize, initMessageSizeReader());
 
 		return Flux.from(inputStream)
 				.flatMapIterable(decoderFunction)
 				.doOnTerminate(decoderFunction::discard);
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Return a reader for message size information encoded in the input stream.
+	 * @since 7.0
+	 */
+	protected MessageSizeReader initMessageSizeReader() {
+		return new DefaultMessageSizeReader();
+	}
+
 	@Override
 	public Mono<Message> decodeToMono(Publisher<DataBuffer> inputStream, ResolvableType elementType,
 			@Nullable MimeType mimeType, @Nullable Map<String, Object> hints) {
@@ -150,9 +159,7 @@ public class ProtobufDecoder extends ProtobufCodecSupport implements Decoder<Mes
 
 		try {
 			Message.Builder builder = getMessageBuilder(targetType.toClass());
-			ByteBuffer byteBuffer = ByteBuffer.allocate(dataBuffer.readableByteCount());
-			dataBuffer.toByteBuffer(byteBuffer);
-			builder.mergeFrom(CodedInputStream.newInstance(byteBuffer), this.extensionRegistry);
+			merge(dataBuffer, builder);
 			return builder.build();
 		}
 		catch (IOException ex) {
@@ -166,6 +173,17 @@ public class ProtobufDecoder extends ProtobufCodecSupport implements Decoder<Mes
 		}
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Use merge methods on {@link Message.Builder} to read a single message
+	 * from the given {@code DataBuffer}.
+	 * @since 7.0
+	 */
+	protected void merge(DataBuffer dataBuffer, Message.Builder builder) throws IOException {
+		ByteBuffer byteBuffer = ByteBuffer.allocate(dataBuffer.readableByteCount());
+		dataBuffer.toByteBuffer(byteBuffer);
+		builder.mergeFrom(CodedInputStream.newInstance(byteBuffer), this.extensionRegistry);
+	}
+
 
 	/**
 	 * Create a new {@code Message.Builder} instance for the given class.
@@ -196,15 +214,14 @@ public class ProtobufDecoder extends ProtobufCodecSupport implements Decoder<Mes
 
 		private int messageBytesToRead;
 
-		private int offset;
+		private final MessageSizeReader messageSizeReader;
 
-
-		public MessageDecoderFunction(ResolvableType elementType, int maxMessageSize) {
+		public MessageDecoderFunction(ResolvableType elementType, int maxMessageSize, MessageSizeReader messageSizeReader) {
 			this.elementType = elementType;
 			this.maxMessageSize = maxMessageSize;
+			this.messageSizeReader = messageSizeReader;
 		}
 
-
 		@Override
 		public Iterable<? extends Message> apply(DataBuffer input) {
 			try {
@@ -214,9 +231,11 @@ public class ProtobufDecoder extends ProtobufCodecSupport implements Decoder<Mes
 
 				do {
 					if (this.output == null) {
-						if (!readMessageSize(input)) {
+						Integer messageSize = this.messageSizeReader.readMessageSize(input);
+						if (messageSize == null) {
 							return messages;
 						}
+						this.messageBytesToRead = messageSize;
 						if (this.maxMessageSize > 0 && this.messageBytesToRead > this.maxMessageSize) {
 							throw new DataBufferLimitException(
 									"The number of bytes to read for message " +
@@ -262,56 +281,6 @@ public class ProtobufDecoder extends ProtobufCodecSupport implements Decoder<Mes
 			}
 		}
 
-		/**
-		 * Parse message size as a varint from the input stream, updating {@code messageBytesToRead} and
-		 * {@code offset} fields if needed to allow processing of upcoming chunks.
-		 * Inspired from {@link CodedInputStream#readRawVarint32(int, java.io.InputStream)}
-		 * @return {@code true} when the message size is parsed successfully, {@code false} when the message size is
-		 * truncated
-		 * @see <a href="https://developers.google.com/protocol-buffers/docs/encoding#varints">Base 128 Varints</a>
-		 */
-		private boolean readMessageSize(DataBuffer input) {
-			if (this.offset == 0) {
-				if (input.readableByteCount() == 0) {
-					return false;
-				}
-				int firstByte = input.read();
-				if ((firstByte & 0x80) == 0) {
-					this.messageBytesToRead = firstByte;
-					return true;
-				}
-				this.messageBytesToRead = firstByte & 0x7f;
-				this.offset = 7;
-			}
-
-			if (this.offset < 32) {
-				for (; this.offset < 32; this.offset += 7) {
-					if (input.readableByteCount() == 0) {
-						return false;
-					}
-					final int b = input.read();
-					this.messageBytesToRead |= (b & 0x7f) << this.offset;
-					if ((b & 0x80) == 0) {
-						this.offset = 0;
-						return true;
-					}
-				}
-			}
-			// Keep reading up to 64 bits.
-			for (; this.offset < 64; this.offset += 7) {
-				if (input.readableByteCount() == 0) {
-					return false;
-				}
-				final int b = input.read();
-				if ((b & 0x80) == 0) {
-					this.offset = 0;
-					return true;
-				}
-			}
-			this.offset = 0;
-			throw new DecodingException("Cannot parse message size: malformed varint");
-		}
-
 		public void discard() {
 			if (this.output != null) {
 				DataBufferUtils.release(this.output);
@@ -319,4 +288,83 @@ public class ProtobufDecoder extends ProtobufCodecSupport implements Decoder<Mes
 		}
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Component to read the size of a message. Implementations must be
+	 * stateful and expect size information is potentially split
+	 * across input chunks.
+	 * @since 7.0
+	 */
+	protected interface MessageSizeReader {
+
+		/**
+		 * Read the message size from the given buffer. This method may be
+		 * called multiple times before the message size is fully read.
+		 * @return return the message size, or {@code null} if the data in the
+		 * input buffer was insufficient
+		 */
+		@Nullable Integer readMessageSize(DataBuffer input);
+	}
+
+
+	/**
+	 * Default reader for Protobuf messages.
+	 * <p>Parses the message size as a varint from the input stream.
+	 * Inspired by {@link CodedInputStream#readRawVarint32(int, java.io.InputStream)},
+	 * @see <a href="https://developers.google.com/protocol-buffers/docs/encoding#varints">Base 128 Varints</a>
+	 */
+	private static class DefaultMessageSizeReader implements MessageSizeReader {
+
+		private int offset;
+
+		private int messageSize;
+
+		@Override
+		public @Nullable Integer readMessageSize(DataBuffer input) {
+			if (this.offset == 0) {
+				if (input.readableByteCount() == 0) {
+					return null;
+				}
+				int firstByte = input.read();
+				if ((firstByte & 0x80) == 0) {
+					this.messageSize = firstByte;
+					return getAndReset();
+				}
+				this.messageSize = firstByte & 0x7f;
+				this.offset = 7;
+			}
+
+			if (this.offset < 32) {
+				for (; this.offset < 32; this.offset += 7) {
+					if (input.readableByteCount() == 0) {
+						return null;
+					}
+					final int b = input.read();
+					this.messageSize |= (b & 0x7f) << this.offset;
+					if ((b & 0x80) == 0) {
+						return getAndReset();
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			// Keep reading up to 64 bits.
+			for (; this.offset < 64; this.offset += 7) {
+				if (input.readableByteCount() == 0) {
+					return null;
+				}
+				final int b = input.read();
+				if ((b & 0x80) == 0) {
+					return getAndReset();
+				}
+			}
+			getAndReset();
+			throw new DecodingException("Cannot parse message size: malformed varint");
+		}
+
+		private @Nullable Integer getAndReset() {
+			Integer result = (this.messageSize != 0 ? this.messageSize : null);
+			this.offset = 0;
+			this.messageSize = 0;
+			return result;
+		}
+	}
+
 }
diff --git a/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/codec/protobuf/ProtobufEncoder.java b/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/codec/protobuf/ProtobufEncoder.java
index 5f7f5443299..6230591ba2a 100644
--- a/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/codec/protobuf/ProtobufEncoder.java
+++ b/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/codec/protobuf/ProtobufEncoder.java
@@ -107,15 +107,10 @@ public class ProtobufEncoder extends ProtobufCodecSupport implements HttpMessage
 	}
 
 	private DataBuffer encodeValue(Message message, DataBufferFactory bufferFactory, boolean delimited) {
-		FastByteArrayOutputStream bos = new FastByteArrayOutputStream();
+		FastByteArrayOutputStream outputStream = new FastByteArrayOutputStream();
 		try {
-			if (delimited) {
-				message.writeDelimitedTo((OutputStream) bos);
-			}
-			else {
-				message.writeTo((OutputStream) bos);
-			}
-			byte[] bytes = bos.toByteArrayUnsafe();
+			writeMessage(message, delimited, outputStream);
+			byte[] bytes = outputStream.toByteArrayUnsafe();
 			return bufferFactory.wrap(bytes);
 		}
 		catch (IOException ex) {
@@ -123,4 +118,19 @@ public class ProtobufEncoder extends ProtobufCodecSupport implements HttpMessage
 		}
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Use write methods on {@link Message} to write to the given {@code OutputStream}.
+	 * @since 7.0
+	 */
+	protected void writeMessage(
+			Message message, boolean delimited, OutputStream outputStream) throws IOException {
+
+		if (delimited) {
+			message.writeDelimitedTo(outputStream);
+		}
+		else {
+			message.writeTo(outputStream);
+		}
+	}
+
 }
diff --git a/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/codec/protobuf/ProtobufHttpMessageWriter.java b/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/codec/protobuf/ProtobufHttpMessageWriter.java
index 9c4cb07f51f..103c5dea6fc 100644
--- a/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/codec/protobuf/ProtobufHttpMessageWriter.java
+++ b/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/codec/protobuf/ProtobufHttpMessageWriter.java
@@ -77,30 +77,47 @@ public class ProtobufHttpMessageWriter extends EncoderHttpMessageWriter<Message>
 	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
 	@Override
 	public Mono<Void> write(Publisher<? extends Message> inputStream, ResolvableType elementType,
-			@Nullable MediaType mediaType, ReactiveHttpOutputMessage message, Map<String, Object> hints) {
+			@Nullable MediaType mediaType, ReactiveHttpOutputMessage outputMessage, Map<String, Object> hints) {
 
 		try {
 			Message.Builder builder = getMessageBuilder(elementType.toClass());
 			Descriptors.Descriptor descriptor = builder.getDescriptorForType();
-			message.getHeaders().add(X_PROTOBUF_SCHEMA_HEADER, descriptor.getFile().getName());
-			message.getHeaders().add(X_PROTOBUF_MESSAGE_HEADER, descriptor.getFullName());
+			outputMessage.getHeaders().add(X_PROTOBUF_SCHEMA_HEADER, descriptor.getFile().getName());
+			outputMessage.getHeaders().add(X_PROTOBUF_MESSAGE_HEADER, descriptor.getFullName());
 			if (inputStream instanceof Flux) {
-				if (mediaType == null) {
-					message.getHeaders().setContentType(((HttpMessageEncoder<?>)getEncoder()).getStreamingMediaTypes().get(0));
-				}
-				else if (!ProtobufEncoder.DELIMITED_VALUE.equals(mediaType.getParameters().get(ProtobufEncoder.DELIMITED_KEY))) {
-					Map<String, String> parameters = new HashMap<>(mediaType.getParameters());
-					parameters.put(ProtobufEncoder.DELIMITED_KEY, ProtobufEncoder.DELIMITED_VALUE);
-					message.getHeaders().setContentType(new MediaType(mediaType.getType(), mediaType.getSubtype(), parameters));
-				}
+				outputMessage.getHeaders().setContentType(getStreamingContentType(mediaType));
 			}
-			return super.write(inputStream, elementType, mediaType, message, hints);
+			extendHeaders(outputMessage, hints);
+			return super.write(inputStream, elementType, mediaType, outputMessage, hints);
 		}
 		catch (Exception ex) {
 			return Mono.error(new EncodingException("Could not write Protobuf message: " + ex.getMessage(), ex));
 		}
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Return the {@code MediaType} to use when the input Publisher is multivalued.
+	 * @since 7.0
+	 */
+	protected MediaType getStreamingContentType(@Nullable MediaType mediaType) {
+		if (mediaType == null) {
+			return ((HttpMessageEncoder<?>) getEncoder()).getStreamingMediaTypes().get(0);
+		}
+		Map<String, String> params = new HashMap<>(mediaType.getParameters());
+		if (!ProtobufEncoder.DELIMITED_VALUE.equals(params.get(ProtobufEncoder.DELIMITED_KEY))) {
+			params.put(ProtobufEncoder.DELIMITED_KEY, ProtobufEncoder.DELIMITED_VALUE);
+			mediaType = new MediaType(mediaType, params);
+		}
+		return mediaType;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Make further updates to headers.
+	 * @since 7.0
+	 */
+	protected void extendHeaders(ReactiveHttpOutputMessage message, Map<String, Object> hints) {
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Create a new {@code Message.Builder} instance for the given class.
 	 * <p>This method uses a ConcurrentHashMap for caching method lookups.