Index: core/src/test/java/quickfix/DefaultMessageFactoryTest.java
===================================================================
--- core/src/test/java/quickfix/DefaultMessageFactoryTest.java	(revision 921)
+++ core/src/test/java/quickfix/DefaultMessageFactoryTest.java	(working copy)
@@ -21,18 +21,18 @@
 
     @Test
     public void testMessageCreate() throws Exception {
-        assertEquals(quickfix.fix40.Advertisement.class, factory.create(BEGINSTRING_FIX40, MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT).getClass());
-        assertEquals(quickfix.fix41.Advertisement.class, factory.create(BEGINSTRING_FIX41, MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT).getClass());
-        assertEquals(quickfix.fix42.Advertisement.class, factory.create(BEGINSTRING_FIX42, MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT).getClass());
-        assertEquals(quickfix.fix43.Advertisement.class, factory.create(BEGINSTRING_FIX43, MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT).getClass());
-        assertEquals(quickfix.fix44.Advertisement.class, factory.create(BEGINSTRING_FIX44, MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT).getClass());
-        assertEquals(quickfix.fix50.Advertisement.class, factory.create(FIX50, MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT).getClass());
-        assertEquals(quickfix.Message.class, factory.create("unknown", MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT).getClass());
+        assertMessage(quickfix.fix40.Advertisement.class, MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT, factory.create(BEGINSTRING_FIX40, MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT));
+        assertMessage(quickfix.fix41.Advertisement.class, MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT, factory.create(BEGINSTRING_FIX41, MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT));
+        assertMessage(quickfix.fix42.Advertisement.class, MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT, factory.create(BEGINSTRING_FIX42, MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT));
+        assertMessage(quickfix.fix43.Advertisement.class, MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT, factory.create(BEGINSTRING_FIX43, MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT));
+        assertMessage(quickfix.fix44.Advertisement.class, MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT, factory.create(BEGINSTRING_FIX44, MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT));
+        assertMessage(quickfix.fix50.Advertisement.class, MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT, factory.create(FIX50, MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT));
+        assertMessage(quickfix.Message.class, MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT, factory.create("unknown", MsgType.ADVERTISEMENT));
     }
     
     @Test
     public void testFixtCreate() throws Exception {
-        assertEquals(quickfix.fixt11.Logon.class, factory.create(BEGINSTRING_FIXT11, MsgType.LOGON).getClass());
+        assertMessage(quickfix.fixt11.Logon.class, MsgType.LOGON, factory.create(BEGINSTRING_FIXT11, MsgType.LOGON));
     }
     
     @Test
@@ -53,4 +53,9 @@
         assertNull("if group can't be created return null",
                 factory.create(BEGINSTRING_FIX40, MsgType.MARKET_DATA_SNAPSHOT_FULL_REFRESH, NoMDEntries.FIELD));
     }
+    
+    private static void assertMessage(Class<?> expectedMessageClass, String expectedMessageType, Message message) throws Exception {
+        assertEquals(expectedMessageClass, message.getClass());
+        assertEquals(expectedMessageType, message.getHeader().getString(MsgType.FIELD));
+    }
 }
Index: core/src/main/java/quickfix/DefaultMessageFactory.java
===================================================================
--- core/src/main/java/quickfix/DefaultMessageFactory.java	(revision 921)
+++ core/src/main/java/quickfix/DefaultMessageFactory.java	(working copy)
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 package quickfix;
 
 import static quickfix.FixVersions.*;
+import quickfix.field.MsgType;
 
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
@@ -74,7 +75,11 @@
         if (messageFactory != null) {
             return messageFactory.create(beginString, msgType);
         }
-        return new Message();
+
+        Message message = new Message();
+        message.getHeader().setString(MsgType.FIELD, msgType);
+        
+        return message;
     }
 
     public Group create(String beginString, String msgType, int correspondingFieldID) {