diff --git a/async-nats/src/jetstream/consumer/push.rs b/async-nats/src/jetstream/consumer/push.rs
index 327807170..d9075e37e 100644
--- a/async-nats/src/jetstream/consumer/push.rs
+++ b/async-nats/src/jetstream/consumer/push.rs
@@ -153,10 +153,15 @@ impl futures_util::Stream for Messages {
                                     // TODO store pending_publish as a future and return errors from it
                                     let client = self.context.client.clone();
                                     tokio::task::spawn(async move {
-                                        client
+                                        if let Err(err) = client
                                             .publish(subject, Bytes::from_static(b""))
                                             .await
-                                            .unwrap();
+                                        {
+                                            tracing::warn!(
+                                                "failed to respond to idle heartbeat: {}",
+                                                err
+                                            );
+                                        }
                                     });
                                 }