diff --git a/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/ReactorClientHttpRequest.java b/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/ReactorClientHttpRequest.java
index 4db43942fde..feddda57a76 100644
--- a/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/ReactorClientHttpRequest.java
+++ b/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/ReactorClientHttpRequest.java
@@ -145,7 +145,9 @@ final class ReactorClientHttpRequest extends AbstractStreamingClientHttpRequest
 		headers.forEach((key, value) -> request.requestHeaders().set(key, value));
 
 		if (body == null) {
-			return outbound;
+			// NettyOutbound#subscribe calls then() and that expects a body
+			// Use empty Mono instead for a more optimal send
+			return Mono.empty();
 		}
 
 		AtomicReference<Executor> executorRef = new AtomicReference<>();
diff --git a/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/reactive/ReactorClientHttpRequest.java b/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/reactive/ReactorClientHttpRequest.java
index 83e081c3c9b..646ba71adf0 100644
--- a/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/reactive/ReactorClientHttpRequest.java
+++ b/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/reactive/ReactorClientHttpRequest.java
@@ -120,7 +120,9 @@ class ReactorClientHttpRequest extends AbstractClientHttpRequest implements Zero
 
 	@Override
 	public Mono<Void> setComplete() {
-		return doCommit(this.outbound::then);
+		// NettyOutbound#then() expects a body
+		// Use null as the write action for a more optimal send
+		return doCommit(null);
 	}
 
 	@Override
diff --git a/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/reactive/ReactorNetty2ClientHttpRequest.java b/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/reactive/ReactorNetty2ClientHttpRequest.java
index c24ec75ecea..f8fab77ba67 100644
--- a/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/reactive/ReactorNetty2ClientHttpRequest.java
+++ b/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/reactive/ReactorNetty2ClientHttpRequest.java
@@ -123,7 +123,9 @@ class ReactorNetty2ClientHttpRequest extends AbstractClientHttpRequest implement
 
 	@Override
 	public Mono<Void> setComplete() {
-		return doCommit(this.outbound::then);
+		// NettyOutbound#then() expects a body
+		// Use null as the write action for a more optimal send
+		return doCommit(null);
 	}
 
 	@Override