diff --git a/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/HttpComponentsClientHttpRequestFactory.java b/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/HttpComponentsClientHttpRequestFactory.java
index 830165989d4..d5d73e8f891 100644
--- a/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/HttpComponentsClientHttpRequestFactory.java
+++ b/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/HttpComponentsClientHttpRequestFactory.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2023 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2024 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ public class HttpComponentsClientHttpRequestFactory implements ClientHttpRequest
 
 	private long connectionRequestTimeout = -1;
 
+
 	/**
 	 * Create a new instance of the {@code HttpComponentsClientHttpRequestFactory}
 	 * with a default {@link HttpClient} based on system properties.
@@ -202,6 +203,7 @@ public class HttpComponentsClientHttpRequestFactory implements ClientHttpRequest
 		this.httpContextFactory = httpContextFactory;
 	}
 
+
 	@Override
 	public ClientHttpRequest createRequest(URI uri, HttpMethod httpMethod) throws IOException {
 		HttpClient client = getHttpClient();
@@ -309,8 +311,8 @@ public class HttpComponentsClientHttpRequestFactory implements ClientHttpRequest
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Template method that allows for manipulating the {@link ClassicHttpRequest} before it is
-	 * returned as part of a {@link HttpComponentsClientHttpRequest}.
+	 * Template method that allows for manipulating the {@link ClassicHttpRequest}
+	 * before it is returned as part of a {@link HttpComponentsClientHttpRequest}.
 	 * <p>The default implementation is empty.
 	 * @param request the request to process
 	 */
@@ -331,8 +333,7 @@ public class HttpComponentsClientHttpRequestFactory implements ClientHttpRequest
 
 
 	/**
-	 * Shutdown hook that closes the underlying
-	 * {@link HttpClientConnectionManager ClientConnectionManager}'s
+	 * Shutdown hook that closes the underlying {@link HttpClientConnectionManager}'s
 	 * connection pool, if any.
 	 */
 	@Override
diff --git a/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/ReactorResourceFactory.java b/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/ReactorResourceFactory.java
index faed920cf66..3d1a0982acb 100644
--- a/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/ReactorResourceFactory.java
+++ b/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/ReactorResourceFactory.java
@@ -61,12 +61,12 @@ public class ReactorResourceFactory
 	private Supplier<ConnectionProvider> connectionProviderSupplier = () -> ConnectionProvider.create("webflux", 500);
 
 	@Nullable
-	private ConnectionProvider connectionProvider;
+	private volatile ConnectionProvider connectionProvider;
 
 	private Supplier<LoopResources> loopResourcesSupplier = () -> LoopResources.create("webflux-http");
 
 	@Nullable
-	private LoopResources loopResources;
+	private volatile LoopResources loopResources;
 
 	private boolean manageConnectionProvider = false;
 
@@ -141,16 +141,22 @@ public class ReactorResourceFactory
 
 	/**
 	 * Return the configured {@link ConnectionProvider}.
+	 * <p>Lazily tries to start the resources on demand if not initialized yet.
+	 * @see #start()
 	 */
 	public ConnectionProvider getConnectionProvider() {
-		Assert.state(this.connectionProvider != null, "ConnectionProvider not initialized yet");
-		return this.connectionProvider;
+		if (this.connectionProvider == null) {
+			start();
+		}
+		ConnectionProvider connectionProvider = this.connectionProvider;
+		Assert.state(connectionProvider != null, "ConnectionProvider not initialized");
+		return connectionProvider;
 	}
 
 	/**
 	 * Use this when you don't want to participate in global resources and
 	 * you want to customize the creation of the managed {@code LoopResources}.
-	 * <p>By default, {@code LoopResources.create("reactor-http")} is used.
+	 * <p>By default, {@code LoopResources.create("webflux-http")} is used.
 	 * <p>Note that this option is ignored if {@code userGlobalResources=false} or
 	 * {@link #setLoopResources(LoopResources)} is set.
 	 * @param supplier the supplier to use
@@ -170,10 +176,16 @@ public class ReactorResourceFactory
 
 	/**
 	 * Return the configured {@link LoopResources}.
+	 * <p>Lazily tries to start the resources on demand if not initialized yet.
+	 * @see #start()
 	 */
 	public LoopResources getLoopResources() {
-		Assert.state(this.loopResources != null, "LoopResources not initialized yet");
-		return this.loopResources;
+		if (this.loopResources == null) {
+			start();
+		}
+		LoopResources loopResources = this.loopResources;
+		Assert.state(loopResources != null, "LoopResources not initialized");
+		return loopResources;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -220,6 +232,12 @@ public class ReactorResourceFactory
 	}
 
 
+	/**
+	 * Starts the resources if initialized outside an ApplicationContext.
+	 * This is for backwards compatibility; the preferred way is to rely on
+	 * the ApplicationContext's {@link SmartLifecycle lifecycle management}.
+	 * @see #start()
+	 */
 	@Override
 	public void afterPropertiesSet() {
 		if (this.applicationContext == null) {
@@ -227,6 +245,12 @@ public class ReactorResourceFactory
 		}
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Stops the resources if initialized outside an ApplicationContext.
+	 * This is for backwards compatibility; the preferred way is to rely on
+	 * the ApplicationContext's {@link SmartLifecycle lifecycle management}.
+	 * @see #stop()
+	 */
 	@Override
 	public void destroy() {
 		if (this.applicationContext == null) {
diff --git a/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/reactive/ReactorNetty2ResourceFactory.java b/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/reactive/ReactorNetty2ResourceFactory.java
index 05a8bebeb24..9555a1c67a8 100644
--- a/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/reactive/ReactorNetty2ResourceFactory.java
+++ b/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/reactive/ReactorNetty2ResourceFactory.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2023 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2024 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ public class ReactorNetty2ResourceFactory implements InitializingBean, Disposabl
 	/**
 	 * Use this when you don't want to participate in global resources and
 	 * you want to customize the creation of the managed {@code LoopResources}.
-	 * <p>By default, {@code LoopResources.create("reactor-http")} is used.
+	 * <p>By default, {@code LoopResources.create("webflux-http")} is used.
 	 * <p>Note that this option is ignored if {@code userGlobalResources=false} or
 	 * {@link #setLoopResources(LoopResources)} is set.
 	 * @param supplier the supplier to use
@@ -170,7 +170,6 @@ public class ReactorNetty2ResourceFactory implements InitializingBean, Disposabl
 	 * can also be overridden with the system property
 	 * {@link reactor.netty5.ReactorNetty#SHUTDOWN_QUIET_PERIOD
 	 * ReactorNetty.SHUTDOWN_QUIET_PERIOD}.
-	 * @since 5.2.4
 	 * @see #setShutdownTimeout(Duration)
 	 */
 	public void setShutdownQuietPeriod(Duration shutdownQuietPeriod) {
@@ -187,7 +186,6 @@ public class ReactorNetty2ResourceFactory implements InitializingBean, Disposabl
 	 * can also be overridden with the system property
 	 * {@link reactor.netty5.ReactorNetty#SHUTDOWN_TIMEOUT
 	 * ReactorNetty.SHUTDOWN_TIMEOUT}.
-	 * @since 5.2.4
 	 * @see #setShutdownQuietPeriod(Duration)
 	 */
 	public void setShutdownTimeout(Duration shutdownTimeout) {
diff --git a/spring-web/src/test/java/org/springframework/http/client/ReactorResourceFactoryTests.java b/spring-web/src/test/java/org/springframework/http/client/ReactorResourceFactoryTests.java
index a08c8983a6b..86d65e64ef9 100644
--- a/spring-web/src/test/java/org/springframework/http/client/ReactorResourceFactoryTests.java
+++ b/spring-web/src/test/java/org/springframework/http/client/ReactorResourceFactoryTests.java
@@ -261,4 +261,22 @@ class ReactorResourceFactoryTests {
 		assertThat(resourceFactory.isRunning()).isFalse();
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	void lazilyStartOnConnectionProviderAccess() {
+		assertThat(this.resourceFactory.isRunning()).isFalse();
+		this.resourceFactory.getConnectionProvider();
+		assertThat(this.resourceFactory.isRunning()).isTrue();
+		this.resourceFactory.stop();
+		assertThat(this.resourceFactory.isRunning()).isFalse();
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	void lazilyStartOnLoopResourcesAccess() {
+		assertThat(this.resourceFactory.isRunning()).isFalse();
+		this.resourceFactory.getLoopResources();
+		assertThat(this.resourceFactory.isRunning()).isTrue();
+		this.resourceFactory.stop();
+		assertThat(this.resourceFactory.isRunning()).isFalse();
+	}
+
 }