diff --git a/js.go b/js.go
index 0218126b8..92b6e5449 100644
--- a/js.go
+++ b/js.go
@@ -1010,6 +1010,12 @@ func (js *js) subscribe(subj, queue string, cb MsgHandler, ch chan *Msg, isSync,
 		}
 	}
 
+	// If no stream name is specified, or if option SubjectIsDelivery is
+	// specified, the subject cannot be empty.
+	if subj == _EMPTY_ && (o.stream == _EMPTY_ || o.subjIsDelivery) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("nats: subject required")
+	}
+
 	// Note that these may change based on the consumer info response we may get.
 	hasHeartbeats := o.cfg.Heartbeat > 0
 	hasFC := o.cfg.FlowControl
@@ -1021,7 +1027,7 @@ func (js *js) subscribe(subj, queue string, cb MsgHandler, ch chan *Msg, isSync,
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("nats: invalid ack mode for pull consumers: %s", o.cfg.AckPolicy)
 		}
 		// No deliver subject should be provided
-		if o.cfg.DeliverSubject != _EMPTY_ || o.boundSubject != _EMPTY_ {
+		if o.cfg.DeliverSubject != _EMPTY_ || o.subjIsDelivery {
 			return nil, ErrPullSubscribeToPushConsumer
 		}
 	}
@@ -1100,10 +1106,10 @@ func (js *js) subscribe(subj, queue string, cb MsgHandler, ch chan *Msg, isSync,
 		hbi = o.cfg.Heartbeat
 	}
 
-	// With a bound subject, we go directly create the NATS subscription
+	// With this option, we go directly create the NATS subscription
 	// and skip all lookup/create.
-	if o.boundSubject != _EMPTY_ {
-		deliver = o.boundSubject
+	if o.subjIsDelivery {
+		deliver = subj
 	} else {
 		// In case a consumer has not been set explicitly, then the
 		// durable name will be used as the consumer name.
@@ -1665,10 +1671,10 @@ type subOpts struct {
 	mack bool
 	// For an ordered consumer.
 	ordered bool
-	// For specifying simply the subject the NATS susbcription should
-	// be created on. No stream or consumer name lookup/creation will
-	// be done.
-	boundSubject string
+	// Means that the subject passed to subscribe call will be used
+	// for the low level NATS subscription and no stream nor consumer
+	// lookup/creation will be done.
+	subjIsDelivery bool
 }
 
 // OrderedConsumer will create a fifo direct/ephemeral consumer for in order delivery of messages.
@@ -1887,16 +1893,17 @@ func DeliverSubject(subject string) SubOpt {
 	})
 }
 
-// BindDeliverSubject specifies the deliver subject of a JetStream consumer
-// that the subscription should subscribe to.
+// SubjectIsDelivery specifies that the subject parameter in the subscribe
+// call shall be used to create the NATS subscription and matches the
+// JetStream consumer's deliver subject.
 //
 // NOTE: This is an "expert" API and should only be used when consumer lookup or
 // creation by the library is not possible (for instance cross accounts).
 // Since no lookup of the JetStream consumer is done, there is no way for
 // the library to check the validity of this JetStream subscription.
-func BindDeliverSubject(subject string) SubOpt {
+func SubjectIsDelivery() SubOpt {
 	return subOptFn(func(opts *subOpts) error {
-		opts.boundSubject = subject
+		opts.subjIsDelivery = true
 		return nil
 	})
 }
diff --git a/test/js_test.go b/test/js_test.go
index 24109ab95..619dca410 100644
--- a/test/js_test.go
+++ b/test/js_test.go
@@ -314,6 +314,17 @@ func TestJetStreamSubscribe(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("stream lookup failed: %v", err)
 	}
 
+	// If stream name is not specified, then the subject is required.
+	if _, err := js.SubscribeSync(""); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "required") {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	// Check that if stream name is present, then technically the subject does not have to.
+	sub, err := js.SubscribeSync("", nats.BindStream("TEST"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	sub.Unsubscribe()
+
 	// Check that Queue subscribe with HB or FC fails.
 	_, err = js.QueueSubscribeSync("foo", "wq", nats.IdleHeartbeat(time.Second))
 	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "heartbeat") {
@@ -424,7 +435,7 @@ func TestJetStreamSubscribe(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Now create a sync subscriber that is durable.
 	dname := "derek"
-	sub, err := js.SubscribeSync("foo", nats.Durable(dname))
+	sub, err = js.SubscribeSync("foo", nats.Durable(dname))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -545,11 +556,22 @@ func TestJetStreamSubscribe(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nats.ErrPullSubscribeToPushConsumer {
 		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
-	// Can't specify BindDeliverSubject
-	_, err = js.PullSubscribe("bar", "foo", nats.BindDeliverSubject("baz"))
+	// Can't specify SubjectIsDelivery() for pull subscribers
+	_, err = js.PullSubscribe("bar", "foo", nats.SubjectIsDelivery())
 	if err != nats.ErrPullSubscribeToPushConsumer {
 		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
+	// If stream name is not specified, need the subject.
+	_, err = js.PullSubscribe("", "rip")
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "required") {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	// If stream provided, it should be ok.
+	sub, err = js.PullSubscribe("", "rip", nats.BindStream("TEST"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	sub.Unsubscribe()
 
 	batch := 5
 	sub, err = js.PullSubscribe("bar", "rip")
@@ -1971,9 +1993,10 @@ func TestJetStreamImportDirectOnly(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	waitForPending(t, toSend)
 
-	// It is also possible to create a subscription with a BindDeliverSubject() API
-	// that will not try to do lookup nor create a JS consumer object.
-	sub, err = js.SubscribeSync("ignored", nats.BindDeliverSubject("p.d4"))
+	// It is also possible to create a subscription with a SubjectIsDelivery()
+	// option that says that the given subject will be used to create the low
+	// level NATS subscription and no lookup/create attempt will be made.
+	sub, err = js.SubscribeSync("p.d4", nats.SubjectIsDelivery())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}