diff --git a/cloudevents/generic/agentclient.go b/cloudevents/generic/agentclient.go
index 412e0bc3f..4818cf245 100644
--- a/cloudevents/generic/agentclient.go
+++ b/cloudevents/generic/agentclient.go
@@ -4,11 +4,9 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"strconv"
-	"time"
 
 	cloudevents "github.com/cloudevents/sdk-go/v2"
 
-	"k8s.io/client-go/util/flowcontrol"
 	"k8s.io/klog/v2"
 
 	"open-cluster-management.io/api/cloudevents/generic/options"
@@ -21,14 +19,12 @@ import (
 // An agent is a component that handles the deployment of requested resources on the managed cluster and status report
 // to the source.
 type CloudEventAgentClient[T ResourceObject] struct {
-	cloudEventsOptions options.CloudEventsOptions
-	cloudEventsClient  cloudevents.Client
-	lister             Lister[T]
-	codecs             map[types.CloudEventsDataType]Codec[T]
-	statusHashGetter   StatusHashGetter[T]
-	rateLimiter        flowcontrol.RateLimiter
-	agentID            string
-	clusterName        string
+	*baseClient
+	lister           Lister[T]
+	codecs           map[types.CloudEventsDataType]Codec[T]
+	statusHashGetter StatusHashGetter[T]
+	agentID          string
+	clusterName      string
 }
 
 // NewCloudEventAgentClient returns an instance for CloudEventAgentClient. The following arguments are required to
@@ -56,14 +52,17 @@ func NewCloudEventAgentClient[T ResourceObject](
 	}
 
 	return &CloudEventAgentClient[T]{
-		cloudEventsOptions: agentOptions.CloudEventsOptions,
-		cloudEventsClient:  cloudEventsClient,
-		lister:             lister,
-		codecs:             evtCodes,
-		statusHashGetter:   statusHashGetter,
-		rateLimiter:        NewRateLimiter(agentOptions.EventRateLimit),
-		agentID:            agentOptions.AgentID,
-		clusterName:        agentOptions.ClusterName,
+		baseClient: &baseClient{
+			cloudEventsOptions:     agentOptions.CloudEventsOptions,
+			cloudEventsRateLimiter: NewRateLimiter(agentOptions.EventRateLimit),
+			cloudEventsClient:      cloudEventsClient,
+			cloudEventsErrChan:     agentOptions.CloudEventsOptions.ErrorChan(),
+		},
+		lister:           lister,
+		codecs:           evtCodes,
+		statusHashGetter: statusHashGetter,
+		agentID:          agentOptions.AgentID,
+		clusterName:      agentOptions.ClusterName,
 	}, nil
 }
 
@@ -101,12 +100,7 @@ func (c *CloudEventAgentClient[T]) Resync(ctx context.Context) error {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to set data to cloud event: %v", err)
 		}
 
-		sendingContext, err := c.cloudEventsOptions.WithContext(ctx, evt.Context)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		if err := sendEventWithLimit(sendingContext, c.rateLimiter, c.cloudEventsClient, evt); err != nil {
+		if err := c.publish(ctx, evt); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -130,12 +124,7 @@ func (c *CloudEventAgentClient[T]) Publish(ctx context.Context, eventType types.
 		return err
 	}
 
-	sendingContext, err := c.cloudEventsOptions.WithContext(ctx, evt.Context)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if err := sendEventWithLimit(sendingContext, c.rateLimiter, c.cloudEventsClient, *evt); err != nil {
+	if err := c.publish(ctx, *evt); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
@@ -145,63 +134,67 @@ func (c *CloudEventAgentClient[T]) Publish(ctx context.Context, eventType types.
 // Subscribe the events that are from the source status resync request or source resource spec request.
 // For status resync request, agent publish the current resources status back as response.
 // For resource spec request, agent receives resource spec and handles the spec with resource handlers.
-func (c *CloudEventAgentClient[T]) Subscribe(ctx context.Context, handlers ...ResourceHandler[T]) error {
-	return c.cloudEventsClient.StartReceiver(ctx, func(evt cloudevents.Event) {
-		klog.V(4).Infof("Received event:\n%s", evt)
-
-		eventType, err := types.ParseCloudEventsType(evt.Type())
-		if err != nil {
-			klog.Errorf("failed to parse cloud event type %s, %v", evt.Type(), err)
-			return
-		}
+func (c *CloudEventAgentClient[T]) Subscribe(ctx context.Context, handlers ...ResourceHandler[T]) {
+	c.subscribe(ctx, func(ctx context.Context, evt cloudevents.Event) {
+		c.receive(ctx, evt, handlers...)
+	})
+}
 
-		if eventType.Action == types.ResyncRequestAction {
-			if eventType.SubResource != types.SubResourceStatus {
-				klog.Warningf("unsupported resync event type %s, ignore", eventType)
-				return
-			}
+func (c *CloudEventAgentClient[T]) receive(ctx context.Context, evt cloudevents.Event, handlers ...ResourceHandler[T]) {
+	klog.V(4).Infof("Received event:\n%s", evt)
 
-			if err := c.respondResyncStatusRequest(ctx, eventType.CloudEventsDataType, evt); err != nil {
-				klog.Errorf("failed to resync manifestsstatus, %v", err)
-			}
+	eventType, err := types.ParseCloudEventsType(evt.Type())
+	if err != nil {
+		klog.Errorf("failed to parse cloud event type %s, %v", evt.Type(), err)
+		return
+	}
 
+	if eventType.Action == types.ResyncRequestAction {
+		if eventType.SubResource != types.SubResourceStatus {
+			klog.Warningf("unsupported resync event type %s, ignore", eventType)
 			return
 		}
 
-		if eventType.SubResource != types.SubResourceSpec {
-			klog.Warningf("unsupported event type %s, ignore", eventType)
-			return
+		if err := c.respondResyncStatusRequest(ctx, eventType.CloudEventsDataType, evt); err != nil {
+			klog.Errorf("failed to resync manifestsstatus, %v", err)
 		}
 
-		codec, ok := c.codecs[eventType.CloudEventsDataType]
-		if !ok {
-			klog.Warningf("failed to find the codec for event %s, ignore", eventType.CloudEventsDataType)
-			return
-		}
+		return
+	}
 
-		obj, err := codec.Decode(&evt)
-		if err != nil {
-			klog.Errorf("failed to decode spec, %v", err)
-			return
-		}
+	if eventType.SubResource != types.SubResourceSpec {
+		klog.Warningf("unsupported event type %s, ignore", eventType)
+		return
+	}
 
-		action, err := c.specAction(evt.Source(), obj)
-		if err != nil {
-			klog.Errorf("failed to generate spec action %s, %v", evt, err)
-			return
-		}
+	codec, ok := c.codecs[eventType.CloudEventsDataType]
+	if !ok {
+		klog.Warningf("failed to find the codec for event %s, ignore", eventType.CloudEventsDataType)
+		return
+	}
 
-		if len(action) == 0 {
-			// no action is required, ignore
-			return
-		}
+	obj, err := codec.Decode(&evt)
+	if err != nil {
+		klog.Errorf("failed to decode spec, %v", err)
+		return
+	}
 
-		for _, handler := range handlers {
-			if err := handler(action, obj); err != nil {
-				klog.Errorf("failed to handle spec event %s, %v", evt, err)
-			}
+	action, err := c.specAction(evt.Source(), obj)
+	if err != nil {
+		klog.Errorf("failed to generate spec action %s, %v", evt, err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	if len(action) == 0 {
+		// no action is required, ignore
+		return
+	}
+
+	for _, handler := range handlers {
+		if err := handler(action, obj); err != nil {
+			klog.Errorf("failed to handle spec event %s, %v", evt, err)
 		}
-	})
+	}
 }
 
 // Upon receiving the status resync event, the agent responds by sending resource status events to the broker as
@@ -287,30 +280,6 @@ func (c *CloudEventAgentClient[T]) specAction(source string, obj T) (evt types.R
 	return types.Modified, nil
 }
 
-func sendEventWithLimit(sendingCtx context.Context, limiter flowcontrol.RateLimiter,
-	sender cloudevents.Client, evt cloudevents.Event) error {
-	now := time.Now()
-
-	err := limiter.Wait(sendingCtx)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("client rate limiter Wait returned an error: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	latency := time.Since(now)
-	if latency > longThrottleLatency {
-		klog.Warningf(fmt.Sprintf("Waited for %v due to client-side throttling, not priority and fairness, request: %s",
-			latency, evt))
-	}
-
-	klog.V(4).Infof("Sent event: %v\n%s", sendingCtx, evt)
-
-	if result := sender.Send(sendingCtx, evt); cloudevents.IsUndelivered(result) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to send event %s, %v", evt, result)
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
-
 func getObj[T ResourceObject](resourceID string, objs []T) (obj T, exists bool) {
 	for _, obj := range objs {
 		if string(obj.GetUID()) == resourceID {
diff --git a/cloudevents/generic/agentclient_test.go b/cloudevents/generic/agentclient_test.go
index d6a12f90e..86bd7fdfd 100644
--- a/cloudevents/generic/agentclient_test.go
+++ b/cloudevents/generic/agentclient_test.go
@@ -273,9 +273,7 @@ func TestStatusResyncResponse(t *testing.T) {
 				t.Errorf("unexpected error %v", err)
 			}
 
-			if err := agent.Subscribe(context.TODO()); err != nil {
-				t.Errorf("unexpected error %v", err)
-			}
+			agent.receive(context.TODO(), c.requestEvent)
 
 			c.validate(client.GetSentEvents())
 		})
@@ -440,13 +438,11 @@ func TestReceiveResourceSpec(t *testing.T) {
 
 			var actualEvent types.ResourceAction
 			var actualRes *mockResource
-			if err := agent.Subscribe(context.TODO(), func(event types.ResourceAction, resource *mockResource) error {
+			agent.receive(context.TODO(), c.requestEvent, func(event types.ResourceAction, resource *mockResource) error {
 				actualEvent = event
 				actualRes = resource
 				return nil
-			}); err != nil {
-				t.Errorf("unexpected error %v", err)
-			}
+			})
 
 			c.validate(actualEvent, actualRes)
 		})
diff --git a/cloudevents/generic/baseclient.go b/cloudevents/generic/baseclient.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..381282c35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cloudevents/generic/baseclient.go
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+package generic
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+
+	cloudevents "github.com/cloudevents/sdk-go/v2"
+
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/runtime"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/wait"
+	"k8s.io/client-go/util/flowcontrol"
+	"k8s.io/klog/v2"
+	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
+
+	"open-cluster-management.io/api/cloudevents/generic/options"
+)
+
+type receiveFn func(ctx context.Context, evt cloudevents.Event)
+
+type baseClient struct {
+	sync.RWMutex
+	cloudEventsOptions     options.CloudEventsOptions
+	cloudEventsClient      cloudevents.Client
+	cloudEventsErrChan     <-chan error
+	cloudEventsRateLimiter flowcontrol.RateLimiter
+	subStarted             bool
+}
+
+func (c *baseClient) publish(ctx context.Context, evt cloudevents.Event) error {
+	now := time.Now()
+
+	if err := c.cloudEventsRateLimiter.Wait(ctx); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("client rate limiter Wait returned an error: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	latency := time.Since(now)
+	if latency > longThrottleLatency {
+		klog.Warningf(fmt.Sprintf("Waited for %v due to client-side throttling, not priority and fairness, request: %s",
+			latency, evt))
+	}
+
+	sendingCtx, err := c.cloudEventsOptions.WithContext(ctx, evt.Context)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	klog.V(4).Infof("Sent event: %v\n%s", ctx, evt)
+
+	if result := c.cloudEventsClient.Send(sendingCtx, evt); cloudevents.IsUndelivered(result) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to send event %s, %v", evt, result)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (c *baseClient) subscribe(ctx context.Context, receive receiveFn) {
+	c.Lock()
+	defer c.Unlock()
+
+	// make sure there is only one subscription go routine starting for one client.
+	if c.subStarted {
+		klog.Warningf("the subscription has already started")
+		return
+	}
+
+	// start a go routine to handle cloudevents subscription
+	go func() {
+		var receiverCtx context.Context
+		var receiverCancel context.CancelFunc
+		var retrying, receiving bool
+
+		// the reconnect backoff will stop at [1,5) min interval. If we don't backoff for 10min, we reset the backoff.
+		connBackoffManager := wait.NewExponentialBackoffManager(5*time.Second, 1*time.Minute, 10*time.Minute, 5.0, 1.0, &clock.RealClock{})
+
+		for {
+			select {
+			case <-ctx.Done():
+				if receiverCancel != nil {
+					receiverCancel()
+				}
+				return
+			case err, ok := <-c.cloudEventsErrChan:
+				if !ok {
+					continue
+				}
+
+				klog.Errorf("the cloudevents client is disconnected, %v", err)
+
+				// the cloudevents network connection is closed, stop the receiver and start retry
+				if receiverCancel != nil {
+					receiverCancel()
+				}
+				retrying = true
+				receiving = false
+				<-connBackoffManager.Backoff().C()
+				continue
+			default:
+			}
+
+			if retrying {
+				klog.V(4).Infof("reconnecting the cloudevents client")
+				cloudEventsClient, err := c.cloudEventsOptions.Client(ctx)
+				if err != nil {
+					// failed to reconnect, retry agin
+					// TODO enhance the cloudevents SKD to avoid wrapping the error type, then we can only handle the
+					// net connection errors here
+					klog.Errorf("failed to reconnect, %v", err)
+					<-connBackoffManager.Backoff().C()
+					continue
+				}
+
+				// the cloudevents network connection is back, stop the retry and refresh the current cloudevents client
+				retrying = false
+				c.cloudEventsClient = cloudEventsClient
+			}
+
+			if !receiving && !retrying {
+				receiverCtx, receiverCancel = context.WithCancel(context.TODO())
+				klog.V(4).Infof("starting the cloudevents receiver")
+
+				// TODO send a resync request
+
+				go func() {
+					if err := c.cloudEventsClient.StartReceiver(receiverCtx, func(evt cloudevents.Event) {
+						receive(receiverCtx, evt)
+					}); err != nil {
+						runtime.HandleError(fmt.Errorf("failed to receive cloudevents, %v", err))
+					}
+				}()
+				receiving = true
+			}
+
+			<-time.After(time.Second)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	c.subStarted = true
+}
diff --git a/cloudevents/generic/interface.go b/cloudevents/generic/interface.go
index c3c9a0725..484b99255 100644
--- a/cloudevents/generic/interface.go
+++ b/cloudevents/generic/interface.go
@@ -61,5 +61,5 @@ type CloudEventsClient[T ResourceObject] interface {
 
 	// Subscribe the resources status/spec event to the broker to receive the resources status/spec and use
 	// ResourceHandler to handle them.
-	Subscribe(ctx context.Context, handlers ...ResourceHandler[T]) error
+	Subscribe(ctx context.Context, handlers ...ResourceHandler[T])
 }
diff --git a/cloudevents/generic/options/fake/fakeoptions.go b/cloudevents/generic/options/fake/fakeoptions.go
index 0d9574f58..11eff3c1e 100644
--- a/cloudevents/generic/options/fake/fakeoptions.go
+++ b/cloudevents/generic/options/fake/fakeoptions.go
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ func (o *CloudEventsFakeOptions) Client(ctx context.Context) (cloudevents.Client
 	return o.client, nil
 }
 
+func (o *CloudEventsFakeOptions) ErrorChan() <-chan error {
+	return nil
+}
+
 type CloudEventsFakeClient struct {
 	sentEvents     []cloudevents.Event
 	receivedEvents []cloudevents.Event
diff --git a/cloudevents/generic/options/mqtt/agentoptions.go b/cloudevents/generic/options/mqtt/agentoptions.go
index 1525ff68c..3f9361870 100644
--- a/cloudevents/generic/options/mqtt/agentoptions.go
+++ b/cloudevents/generic/options/mqtt/agentoptions.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 
 type mqttAgentOptions struct {
 	MQTTOptions
+	errorChan   chan error
 	clusterName string
 	agentID     string
 }
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ func NewAgentOptions(mqttOptions *MQTTOptions, clusterName, agentID string) *opt
 	return &options.CloudEventsAgentOptions{
 		CloudEventsOptions: &mqttAgentOptions{
 			MQTTOptions: *mqttOptions,
+			errorChan:   make(chan error),
 			clusterName: clusterName,
 			agentID:     agentID,
 		},
@@ -59,6 +61,9 @@ func (o *mqttAgentOptions) Client(ctx context.Context) (cloudevents.Client, erro
 	receiver, err := o.GetCloudEventsClient(
 		ctx,
 		fmt.Sprintf("%s-client", o.agentID),
+		func(err error) {
+			o.errorChan <- err
+		},
 		cloudeventsmqtt.WithPublish(&paho.Publish{QoS: byte(o.PubQoS)}),
 		cloudeventsmqtt.WithSubscribe(
 			&paho.Subscribe{
@@ -76,3 +81,7 @@ func (o *mqttAgentOptions) Client(ctx context.Context) (cloudevents.Client, erro
 	}
 	return receiver, nil
 }
+
+func (o *mqttAgentOptions) ErrorChan() <-chan error {
+	return o.errorChan
+}
diff --git a/cloudevents/generic/options/mqtt/options.go b/cloudevents/generic/options/mqtt/options.go
index e79e0af62..4c6212b50 100644
--- a/cloudevents/generic/options/mqtt/options.go
+++ b/cloudevents/generic/options/mqtt/options.go
@@ -124,15 +124,18 @@ func (o *MQTTOptions) GetMQTTConnectOption(clientID string) *paho.Connect {
 func (o *MQTTOptions) GetCloudEventsClient(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	clientID string,
-	clientOpts ...cloudeventsmqtt.Option) (cloudevents.Client, error) {
+	errorHandler func(error),
+	clientOpts ...cloudeventsmqtt.Option,
+) (cloudevents.Client, error) {
 	netConn, err := o.GetNetConn()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	config := &paho.ClientConfig{
-		ClientID: clientID,
-		Conn:     netConn,
+		ClientID:      clientID,
+		Conn:          netConn,
+		OnClientError: errorHandler,
 	}
 
 	opts := []cloudeventsmqtt.Option{cloudeventsmqtt.WithConnect(o.GetMQTTConnectOption(clientID))}
diff --git a/cloudevents/generic/options/mqtt/sourceoptions.go b/cloudevents/generic/options/mqtt/sourceoptions.go
index 095c13522..5e4f20898 100644
--- a/cloudevents/generic/options/mqtt/sourceoptions.go
+++ b/cloudevents/generic/options/mqtt/sourceoptions.go
@@ -16,13 +16,15 @@ import (
 
 type mqttSourceOptions struct {
 	MQTTOptions
-	sourceID string
+	errorChan chan error
+	sourceID  string
 }
 
 func NewSourceOptions(mqttOptions *MQTTOptions, sourceID string) *options.CloudEventsSourceOptions {
 	return &options.CloudEventsSourceOptions{
 		CloudEventsOptions: &mqttSourceOptions{
 			MQTTOptions: *mqttOptions,
+			errorChan:   make(chan error),
 			sourceID:    sourceID,
 		},
 		SourceID: sourceID,
@@ -55,6 +57,9 @@ func (o *mqttSourceOptions) Client(ctx context.Context) (cloudevents.Client, err
 	receiver, err := o.GetCloudEventsClient(
 		ctx,
 		fmt.Sprintf("%s-client", o.sourceID),
+		func(err error) {
+			o.errorChan <- err
+		},
 		cloudeventsmqtt.WithPublish(&paho.Publish{QoS: byte(o.PubQoS)}),
 		cloudeventsmqtt.WithSubscribe(
 			&paho.Subscribe{
@@ -72,3 +77,7 @@ func (o *mqttSourceOptions) Client(ctx context.Context) (cloudevents.Client, err
 	}
 	return receiver, nil
 }
+
+func (o *mqttSourceOptions) ErrorChan() <-chan error {
+	return o.errorChan
+}
diff --git a/cloudevents/generic/options/options.go b/cloudevents/generic/options/options.go
index 68c9dec44..57fbf14e9 100644
--- a/cloudevents/generic/options/options.go
+++ b/cloudevents/generic/options/options.go
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ type CloudEventsOptions interface {
 
 	// Client returns a cloudevents client for sending and receiving cloudevents
 	Client(ctx context.Context) (cloudevents.Client, error)
+
+	// ErrorChan returns a chan which will receive the cloudevents connection error. The source/agent client will try to
+	// reconnect the when this error occurs.
+	ErrorChan() <-chan error
 }
 
 // EventRateLimit for limiting the event sending rate.
diff --git a/cloudevents/generic/sourceclient.go b/cloudevents/generic/sourceclient.go
index 25f790dd5..8d8035fc6 100644
--- a/cloudevents/generic/sourceclient.go
+++ b/cloudevents/generic/sourceclient.go
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 	cloudevents "github.com/cloudevents/sdk-go/v2"
 
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
-	"k8s.io/client-go/util/flowcontrol"
 	"k8s.io/klog/v2"
 
 	"open-cluster-management.io/api/cloudevents/generic/options"
@@ -21,13 +20,11 @@ import (
 // A source is a component that runs on a server, it can be a controller on the hub cluster or a RESTful service
 // handling resource requests.
 type CloudEventSourceClient[T ResourceObject] struct {
-	cloudEventsOptions options.CloudEventsOptions
-	cloudEventsClient  cloudevents.Client
-	lister             Lister[T]
-	codecs             map[types.CloudEventsDataType]Codec[T]
-	statusHashGetter   StatusHashGetter[T]
-	rateLimiter        flowcontrol.RateLimiter
-	sourceID           string
+	*baseClient
+	lister           Lister[T]
+	codecs           map[types.CloudEventsDataType]Codec[T]
+	statusHashGetter StatusHashGetter[T]
+	sourceID         string
 }
 
 // NewCloudEventSourceClient returns an instance for CloudEventSourceClient. The following arguments are required to
@@ -55,13 +52,16 @@ func NewCloudEventSourceClient[T ResourceObject](
 	}
 
 	return &CloudEventSourceClient[T]{
-		cloudEventsOptions: sourceOptions.CloudEventsOptions,
-		cloudEventsClient:  cloudEventsClient,
-		lister:             lister,
-		codecs:             evtCodes,
-		statusHashGetter:   statusHashGetter,
-		rateLimiter:        NewRateLimiter(sourceOptions.EventRateLimit),
-		sourceID:           sourceOptions.SourceID,
+		baseClient: &baseClient{
+			cloudEventsOptions:     sourceOptions.CloudEventsOptions,
+			cloudEventsRateLimiter: NewRateLimiter(sourceOptions.EventRateLimit),
+			cloudEventsClient:      cloudEventsClient,
+			cloudEventsErrChan:     sourceOptions.CloudEventsOptions.ErrorChan(),
+		},
+		lister:           lister,
+		codecs:           evtCodes,
+		statusHashGetter: statusHashGetter,
+		sourceID:         sourceOptions.SourceID,
 	}, nil
 }
 
@@ -99,12 +99,7 @@ func (c *CloudEventSourceClient[T]) Resync(ctx context.Context) error {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to set data to cloud event: %v", err)
 		}
 
-		sendingContext, err := c.cloudEventsOptions.WithContext(ctx, evt.Context)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		if err := sendEventWithLimit(sendingContext, c.rateLimiter, c.cloudEventsClient, evt); err != nil {
+		if err := c.publish(ctx, evt); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -128,12 +123,7 @@ func (c *CloudEventSourceClient[T]) Publish(ctx context.Context, eventType types
 		return err
 	}
 
-	sendingContext, err := c.cloudEventsOptions.WithContext(ctx, evt.Context)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if err := sendEventWithLimit(sendingContext, c.rateLimiter, c.cloudEventsClient, *evt); err != nil {
+	if err := c.publish(ctx, *evt); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
@@ -143,73 +133,73 @@ func (c *CloudEventSourceClient[T]) Publish(ctx context.Context, eventType types
 // Subscribe the events that are from the agent spec resync request or agent resource status request.
 // For spec resync request, source publish the current resources spec back as response.
 // For resource status request, source receives resource status and handles the status with resource handlers.
-func (c *CloudEventSourceClient[T]) Subscribe(ctx context.Context, handlers ...ResourceHandler[T]) error {
-	if err := c.cloudEventsClient.StartReceiver(ctx, func(evt cloudevents.Event) {
-		klog.V(4).Infof("Received event:\n%s", evt)
-
-		eventType, err := types.ParseCloudEventsType(evt.Type())
-		if err != nil {
-			klog.Errorf("failed to parse cloud event type, %v", err)
-			return
-		}
+func (c *CloudEventSourceClient[T]) Subscribe(ctx context.Context, handlers ...ResourceHandler[T]) {
+	c.subscribe(ctx, func(ctx context.Context, evt cloudevents.Event) {
+		c.receive(ctx, evt, handlers...)
+	})
+}
 
-		if eventType.Action == types.ResyncRequestAction {
-			if eventType.SubResource != types.SubResourceSpec {
-				klog.Warningf("unsupported event type %s, ignore", eventType)
-				return
-			}
+func (c *CloudEventSourceClient[T]) receive(ctx context.Context, evt cloudevents.Event, handlers ...ResourceHandler[T]) {
+	klog.V(4).Infof("Received event:\n%s", evt)
 
-			if err := c.respondResyncSpecRequest(ctx, eventType.CloudEventsDataType, evt); err != nil {
-				klog.Errorf("failed to resync resources spec, %v", err)
-			}
+	eventType, err := types.ParseCloudEventsType(evt.Type())
+	if err != nil {
+		klog.Errorf("failed to parse cloud event type, %v", err)
+		return
+	}
 
+	if eventType.Action == types.ResyncRequestAction {
+		if eventType.SubResource != types.SubResourceSpec {
+			klog.Warningf("unsupported event type %s, ignore", eventType)
 			return
 		}
 
-		codec, ok := c.codecs[eventType.CloudEventsDataType]
-		if !ok {
-			klog.Warningf("failed to find the codec for event %s, ignore", eventType.CloudEventsDataType)
-			return
+		if err := c.respondResyncSpecRequest(ctx, eventType.CloudEventsDataType, evt); err != nil {
+			klog.Errorf("failed to resync resources spec, %v", err)
 		}
 
-		if eventType.SubResource != types.SubResourceStatus {
-			klog.Warningf("unsupported event type %s, ignore", eventType)
-			return
-		}
+		return
+	}
 
-		clusterName, err := evt.Context.GetExtension(types.ExtensionClusterName)
-		if err != nil {
-			klog.Errorf("failed to find cluster name, %v", err)
-			return
-		}
+	codec, ok := c.codecs[eventType.CloudEventsDataType]
+	if !ok {
+		klog.Warningf("failed to find the codec for event %s, ignore", eventType.CloudEventsDataType)
+		return
+	}
 
-		obj, err := codec.Decode(&evt)
-		if err != nil {
-			klog.Errorf("failed to decode status, %v", err)
-			return
-		}
+	if eventType.SubResource != types.SubResourceStatus {
+		klog.Warningf("unsupported event type %s, ignore", eventType)
+		return
+	}
 
-		action, err := c.statusAction(fmt.Sprintf("%s", clusterName), obj)
-		if err != nil {
-			klog.Errorf("failed to generate status event %s, %v", evt, err)
-			return
-		}
+	clusterName, err := evt.Context.GetExtension(types.ExtensionClusterName)
+	if err != nil {
+		klog.Errorf("failed to find cluster name, %v", err)
+		return
+	}
 
-		if len(action) == 0 {
-			// no action is required, ignore
-			return
-		}
+	obj, err := codec.Decode(&evt)
+	if err != nil {
+		klog.Errorf("failed to decode status, %v", err)
+		return
+	}
 
-		for _, handler := range handlers {
-			if err := handler(action, obj); err != nil {
-				klog.Errorf("failed to handle status event %s, %v", evt, err)
-			}
-		}
-	}); err != nil {
-		return err
+	action, err := c.statusAction(fmt.Sprintf("%s", clusterName), obj)
+	if err != nil {
+		klog.Errorf("failed to generate status event %s, %v", evt, err)
+		return
 	}
 
-	return nil
+	if len(action) == 0 {
+		// no action is required, ignore
+		return
+	}
+
+	for _, handler := range handlers {
+		if err := handler(action, obj); err != nil {
+			klog.Errorf("failed to handle status event %s, %v", evt, err)
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 // Upon receiving the spec resync event, the source responds by sending resource status events to the broker as follows:
@@ -271,13 +261,7 @@ func (c *CloudEventSourceClient[T]) respondResyncSpecRequest(
 			WithClusterName(fmt.Sprintf("%s", clusterName)).
 			WithDeletionTimestamp(metav1.Now().Time).
 			NewEvent()
-
-		sendingContext, err := c.cloudEventsOptions.WithContext(ctx, evt.Context)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		if err := sendEventWithLimit(sendingContext, c.rateLimiter, c.cloudEventsClient, evt); err != nil {
+		if err := c.publish(ctx, evt); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/cloudevents/generic/sourceclient_test.go b/cloudevents/generic/sourceclient_test.go
index 0b834130f..1d41b4a76 100644
--- a/cloudevents/generic/sourceclient_test.go
+++ b/cloudevents/generic/sourceclient_test.go
@@ -273,9 +273,7 @@ func TestSpecResyncResponse(t *testing.T) {
 				t.Errorf("unexpected error %v", err)
 			}
 
-			if err := source.Subscribe(context.TODO()); err != nil {
-				t.Errorf("unexpected error %v", err)
-			}
+			source.receive(context.TODO(), c.requestEvent)
 
 			c.validate(fakeClient.GetSentEvents())
 		})
@@ -408,13 +406,11 @@ func TestReceiveResourceStatus(t *testing.T) {
 
 			var actualEvent types.ResourceAction
 			var actualRes *mockResource
-			if err := source.Subscribe(context.TODO(), func(event types.ResourceAction, resource *mockResource) error {
+			source.receive(context.TODO(), c.requestEvent, func(event types.ResourceAction, resource *mockResource) error {
 				actualEvent = event
 				actualRes = resource
 				return nil
-			}); err != nil {
-				t.Errorf("unexpected error %v", err)
-			}
+			})
 
 			c.validate(actualEvent, actualRes)
 		})
diff --git a/cloudevents/work/clientbuilder.go b/cloudevents/work/clientbuilder.go
index ca8a6a5aa..810bf2758 100644
--- a/cloudevents/work/clientbuilder.go
+++ b/cloudevents/work/clientbuilder.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"k8s.io/client-go/rest"
-	"k8s.io/klog/v2"
 
 	workclientset "open-cluster-management.io/api/client/work/clientset/versioned"
 	workv1client "open-cluster-management.io/api/client/work/clientset/versioned/typed/work/v1"
@@ -144,12 +143,7 @@ func (b *ClientHolderBuilder) newAgentClients(ctx context.Context, config *mqtt.
 	// only written from the server. we may need to revisit the implementation in the future.
 	manifestWorkClient.SetLister(namespacedLister)
 
-	go func() {
-		err := cloudEventsClient.Subscribe(ctx, agenthandler.NewManifestWorkAgentHandler(namespacedLister, watcher))
-		if err != nil {
-			klog.Errorf("failed to subscribe to %s, %v", config.BrokerHost, err)
-		}
-	}()
+	cloudEventsClient.Subscribe(ctx, agenthandler.NewManifestWorkAgentHandler(namespacedLister, watcher))
 
 	return &ClientHolder{
 		workClient:           workClient,
diff --git a/test/integration/cloudevents/source/client.go b/test/integration/cloudevents/source/client.go
index c2099a4d7..8407a93b6 100644
--- a/test/integration/cloudevents/source/client.go
+++ b/test/integration/cloudevents/source/client.go
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import (
 
 	cloudevents "github.com/cloudevents/sdk-go/v2"
 	cloudeventstypes "github.com/cloudevents/sdk-go/v2/types"
-	"k8s.io/klog/v2"
 
 	"open-cluster-management.io/api/cloudevents/generic"
 	"open-cluster-management.io/api/cloudevents/generic/options/mqtt"
@@ -126,13 +125,9 @@ func StartResourceSourceClient(ctx context.Context, config *mqtt.MQTTOptions) (g
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	go func() {
-		if err := client.Subscribe(ctx, func(action types.ResourceAction, resource *Resource) error {
-			return GetStore().UpdateStatus(resource)
-		}); err != nil {
-			klog.Fatalf("failed to subscribe to mqtt broker, %v", err)
-		}
-	}()
+	client.Subscribe(ctx, func(action types.ResourceAction, resource *Resource) error {
+		return GetStore().UpdateStatus(resource)
+	})
 
 	return client, nil
 }