diff --git a/camel-core/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/processor/WireTapProcessor.java b/camel-core/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/processor/WireTapProcessor.java
index 13343afd15190..f8ee3db27d421 100644
--- a/camel-core/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/processor/WireTapProcessor.java
+++ b/camel-core/src/main/java/org/apache/camel/processor/WireTapProcessor.java
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ protected Exchange configureExchange(Exchange exchange, ExchangePattern pattern)
         // invoke on prepare on the exchange if specified
         if (onPrepare != null) {
             try {
-                onPrepare.process(exchange);
+                onPrepare.process(answer);
             } catch (Exception e) {
                 throw ObjectHelper.wrapRuntimeCamelException(e);
             }
diff --git a/camel-core/src/test/java/org/apache/camel/processor/WireTapOnPrepareTest.java b/camel-core/src/test/java/org/apache/camel/processor/WireTapOnPrepareTest.java
index 0b37d02653e3d..64f04d7b00180 100644
--- a/camel-core/src/test/java/org/apache/camel/processor/WireTapOnPrepareTest.java
+++ b/camel-core/src/test/java/org/apache/camel/processor/WireTapOnPrepareTest.java
@@ -32,9 +32,16 @@ public void testWireTapOnPrepare() throws Exception {
         getMockEndpoint("mock:b").expectedMessageCount(1);
         getMockEndpoint("mock:b").message(0).body(String.class).isEqualTo("1 Tiger");
 
-        template.sendBody("direct:start", new Animal(1, "Tiger"));
+        final Animal original = new Animal(1, "Tiger");
+        template.sendBody("direct:start", original);
 
         assertMockEndpointsSatisfied();
+
+        final Animal aAnimal = getMockEndpoint("mock:a").getExchanges().get(0).getIn().getBody(Animal.class);
+        final Animal bAnimal = getMockEndpoint("mock:b").getExchanges().get(0).getIn().getBody(Animal.class);
+
+        assertSame("Original instance should stay in main route", original, bAnimal);
+        assertNotSame("Copy should go to Wire Tap Endpoint", original, aAnimal);
     }
 
     @Override