diff --git a/test/kafka/client_integration_test.go b/test/kafka/client_integration_test.go
index 9a23cb324..d9d98e688 100644
--- a/test/kafka/client_integration_test.go
+++ b/test/kafka/client_integration_test.go
@@ -8,15 +8,15 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/segmentio/kafka-go"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/mq/kafka/gateway"
+	"github.com/segmentio/kafka-go"
 )
 
 // TestKafkaGoClient_BasicProduceConsume tests our gateway with real kafka-go client
 func TestKafkaGoClient_BasicProduceConsume(t *testing.T) {
 	// Start the gateway server
 	srv := gateway.NewServer(gateway.Options{
-		Listen:       ":0", // Use random port
+		Listen:       ":0",  // Use random port
 		UseSeaweedMQ: false, // Use in-memory mode for testing
 	})
 
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ func TestKafkaGoClient_OffsetManagement(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Expected 2 remaining messages, got %d", len(remainingMessages))
 	}
 
-	t.Logf("Offset management test passed: consumed %d + %d messages", 
+	t.Logf("Offset management test passed: consumed %d + %d messages",
 		len(partialMessages), len(remainingMessages))
 }
 
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ func createTopicWithKafkaGo(brokerAddr, topicName string) error {
 		Timeout:   5 * time.Second,
 		DualStack: true,
 	}
-	
+
 	conn, err := dialer.Dial("tcp", brokerAddr)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("dial broker: %w", err)
@@ -214,8 +214,8 @@ func createTopicWithKafkaGo(brokerAddr, topicName string) error {
 
 	topicConfigs := []kafka.TopicConfig{
 		{
-			Topic:         topicName,
-			NumPartitions: 1,
+			Topic:             topicName,
+			NumPartitions:     1,
 			ReplicationFactor: 1,
 		},
 	}
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ func produceMessages(brokerAddr, topicName string, messages []kafka.Message) err
 		Topic:    topicName,
 		Balancer: &kafka.LeastBytes{},
 		// Enable detailed logging for debugging protocol issues
-		Logger:      kafka.LoggerFunc(func(msg string, args ...interface{}) {
+		Logger: kafka.LoggerFunc(func(msg string, args ...interface{}) {
 			if strings.Contains(msg, "error") || strings.Contains(msg, "failed") {
 				fmt.Printf("PRODUCER ERROR: "+msg+"\n", args...)
 			}
diff --git a/test/kafka/debug_connection_test.go b/test/kafka/debug_connection_test.go
index 9e99b1632..8a4534c8e 100644
--- a/test/kafka/debug_connection_test.go
+++ b/test/kafka/debug_connection_test.go
@@ -67,17 +67,17 @@ func TestGateway_ApiVersionsRequest(t *testing.T) {
 	clientID := "debug-client"
 
 	request := make([]byte, 0, 64)
-	
+
 	// Build message body first (without size)
 	msgBody := make([]byte, 0, 32)
-	msgBody = append(msgBody, 0, 18)  // API key 18 (ApiVersions)
-	msgBody = append(msgBody, 0, 0)   // API version 0
-	
+	msgBody = append(msgBody, 0, 18) // API key 18 (ApiVersions)
+	msgBody = append(msgBody, 0, 0)  // API version 0
+
 	// Correlation ID
 	correlationBytes := make([]byte, 4)
 	binary.BigEndian.PutUint32(correlationBytes, correlationID)
 	msgBody = append(msgBody, correlationBytes...)
-	
+
 	// Client ID string
 	clientIDBytes := []byte(clientID)
 	msgBody = append(msgBody, byte(len(clientIDBytes)>>8), byte(len(clientIDBytes)))
@@ -170,37 +170,37 @@ func TestGateway_CreateTopicsRequest(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Build message body
 	msgBody := make([]byte, 0, 128)
-	msgBody = append(msgBody, 0, 19)  // API key 19 (CreateTopics)
-	msgBody = append(msgBody, 0, 0)   // API version 0
-	
+	msgBody = append(msgBody, 0, 19) // API key 19 (CreateTopics)
+	msgBody = append(msgBody, 0, 0)  // API version 0
+
 	// Correlation ID
 	correlationBytes := make([]byte, 4)
 	binary.BigEndian.PutUint32(correlationBytes, correlationID)
 	msgBody = append(msgBody, correlationBytes...)
-	
+
 	// Client ID string
 	clientIDBytes := []byte(clientID)
 	msgBody = append(msgBody, byte(len(clientIDBytes)>>8), byte(len(clientIDBytes)))
 	msgBody = append(msgBody, clientIDBytes...)
-	
+
 	// Topics array - count (4 bytes)
 	msgBody = append(msgBody, 0, 0, 0, 1) // 1 topic
-	
+
 	// Topic name
 	topicNameBytes := []byte(topicName)
 	msgBody = append(msgBody, byte(len(topicNameBytes)>>8), byte(len(topicNameBytes)))
 	msgBody = append(msgBody, topicNameBytes...)
-	
+
 	// Num partitions (4 bytes)
 	msgBody = append(msgBody, 0, 0, 0, 1) // 1 partition
-	
-	// Replication factor (2 bytes) 
+
+	// Replication factor (2 bytes)
 	msgBody = append(msgBody, 0, 1) // replication factor 1
-	
+
 	// Configs count (4 bytes)
 	msgBody = append(msgBody, 0, 0, 0, 0) // 0 configs
-	
-	// Timeout (4 bytes) 
+
+	// Timeout (4 bytes)
 	msgBody = append(msgBody, 0, 0, 0x75, 0x30) // 30 seconds
 
 	// Message size + message body
diff --git a/test/kafka/produce_consume_test.go b/test/kafka/produce_consume_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cbb14b966
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/kafka/produce_consume_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,187 @@
+package kafka
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/mq/kafka/gateway"
+	"github.com/segmentio/kafka-go"
+)
+
+// TestKafkaGoClient_DirectProduceConsume bypasses CreateTopics and tests produce/consume directly
+func TestKafkaGoClient_DirectProduceConsume(t *testing.T) {
+	// Start the gateway server
+	srv := gateway.NewServer(gateway.Options{
+		Listen:       ":0",
+		UseSeaweedMQ: false,
+	})
+
+	if err := srv.Start(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to start gateway: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer srv.Close()
+
+	brokerAddr := srv.Addr()
+	t.Logf("Gateway running on %s", brokerAddr)
+
+	topicName := "direct-test-topic"
+
+	// Pre-create the topic by making a direct call to our gateway's topic registry
+	// This simulates topic already existing (like pre-created topics)
+	if err := createTopicDirectly(srv, topicName); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create topic: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Test basic produce without kafka-go's CreateTopics API
+	messages := []kafka.Message{
+		{
+			Key:   []byte("test-key-1"),
+			Value: []byte("Hello from direct produce test!"),
+		},
+		{
+			Key:   []byte("test-key-2"),
+			Value: []byte("Second test message"),
+		},
+	}
+
+	t.Logf("Testing direct produce to topic %s", topicName)
+
+	// Produce messages
+	if err := produceMessagesDirect(brokerAddr, topicName, messages); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to produce messages: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	t.Logf("Successfully produced %d messages", len(messages))
+
+	// Consume messages
+	t.Logf("Testing direct consume from topic %s", topicName)
+
+	consumedMessages, err := consumeMessagesDirect(brokerAddr, topicName, len(messages))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to consume messages: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Validate consumed messages
+	if len(consumedMessages) != len(messages) {
+		t.Errorf("Expected %d messages, got %d", len(messages), len(consumedMessages))
+	}
+
+	for i, msg := range consumedMessages {
+		if i < len(messages) {
+			expectedValue := string(messages[i].Value)
+			actualValue := string(msg.Value)
+			t.Logf("Message %d: key=%s, value=%s", i, string(msg.Key), actualValue)
+
+			if actualValue != expectedValue {
+				t.Errorf("Message %d: expected value %q, got %q", i, expectedValue, actualValue)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	t.Logf("✅ Direct produce/consume test PASSED with %d messages", len(consumedMessages))
+}
+
+// createTopicDirectly creates a topic by directly adding it to the handler's registry
+func createTopicDirectly(srv interface{}, topicName string) error {
+	gatewayServer, ok := srv.(*gateway.Server)
+	if !ok {
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid server type")
+	}
+	
+	// Get the handler and directly add the topic
+	handler := gatewayServer.GetHandler()
+	if handler == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("handler is nil")
+	}
+	
+	// Add the topic with 1 partition
+	handler.AddTopicForTesting(topicName, 1)
+	
+	fmt.Printf("DEBUG: Topic %s created directly in handler registry\n", topicName)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func produceMessagesDirect(brokerAddr, topicName string, messages []kafka.Message) error {
+	// Use kafka-go Writer which should use Produce API directly
+	writer := &kafka.Writer{
+		Addr:     kafka.TCP(brokerAddr),
+		Topic:    topicName,
+		Balancer: &kafka.LeastBytes{},
+
+		// Reduce timeouts for faster debugging
+		WriteTimeout: 10 * time.Second,
+		ReadTimeout:  10 * time.Second,
+
+		// Enable detailed logging
+		Logger: kafka.LoggerFunc(func(msg string, args ...interface{}) {
+			if strings.Contains(msg, "produce") || strings.Contains(msg, "Produce") {
+				fmt.Printf("PRODUCER: "+msg+"\n", args...)
+			}
+		}),
+		ErrorLogger: kafka.LoggerFunc(func(msg string, args ...interface{}) {
+			fmt.Printf("PRODUCER ERROR: "+msg+"\n", args...)
+		}),
+	}
+	defer writer.Close()
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 15*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	fmt.Printf("DEBUG: Writing %d messages to topic %s\n", len(messages), topicName)
+
+	err := writer.WriteMessages(ctx, messages...)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("DEBUG: WriteMessages failed: %v\n", err)
+		return err
+	}
+
+	fmt.Printf("DEBUG: WriteMessages completed successfully\n")
+	return nil
+}
+
+func consumeMessagesDirect(brokerAddr, topicName string, expectedCount int) ([]kafka.Message, error) {
+	// Use kafka-go Reader which should use Fetch API directly
+	reader := kafka.NewReader(kafka.ReaderConfig{
+		Brokers: []string{brokerAddr},
+		Topic:   topicName,
+
+		// Start from the beginning
+		StartOffset: kafka.FirstOffset,
+
+		// Enable detailed logging
+		Logger: kafka.LoggerFunc(func(msg string, args ...interface{}) {
+			if strings.Contains(msg, "fetch") || strings.Contains(msg, "Fetch") {
+				fmt.Printf("CONSUMER: "+msg+"\n", args...)
+			}
+		}),
+		ErrorLogger: kafka.LoggerFunc(func(msg string, args ...interface{}) {
+			fmt.Printf("CONSUMER ERROR: "+msg+"\n", args...)
+		}),
+	})
+	defer reader.Close()
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 20*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	fmt.Printf("DEBUG: Reading up to %d messages from topic %s\n", expectedCount, topicName)
+
+	var messages []kafka.Message
+	for i := 0; i < expectedCount; i++ {
+		fmt.Printf("DEBUG: Reading message %d/%d\n", i+1, expectedCount)
+
+		msg, err := reader.ReadMessage(ctx)
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Printf("DEBUG: ReadMessage %d failed: %v\n", i+1, err)
+			return messages, fmt.Errorf("read message %d: %w", i+1, err)
+		}
+
+		fmt.Printf("DEBUG: Successfully read message %d: %d bytes\n", i+1, len(msg.Value))
+		messages = append(messages, msg)
+	}
+
+	fmt.Printf("DEBUG: Successfully read all %d messages\n", len(messages))
+	return messages, nil
+}
diff --git a/weed/mq/kafka/gateway/server.go b/weed/mq/kafka/gateway/server.go
index 91a31a005..bd8f03922 100644
--- a/weed/mq/kafka/gateway/server.go
+++ b/weed/mq/kafka/gateway/server.go
@@ -112,3 +112,8 @@ func (s *Server) Addr() string {
 	}
 	return s.ln.Addr().String()
 }
+
+// GetHandler returns the protocol handler (for testing)
+func (s *Server) GetHandler() *protocol.Handler {
+	return s.handler
+}
diff --git a/weed/mq/kafka/protocol/handler.go b/weed/mq/kafka/protocol/handler.go
index 9c0d74cdc..ddd955889 100644
--- a/weed/mq/kafka/protocol/handler.go
+++ b/weed/mq/kafka/protocol/handler.go
@@ -162,11 +162,11 @@ func (h *Handler) HandleConn(conn net.Conn) error {
 		apiKey := binary.BigEndian.Uint16(messageBuf[0:2])
 		apiVersion := binary.BigEndian.Uint16(messageBuf[2:4])
 		correlationID := binary.BigEndian.Uint32(messageBuf[4:8])
-		
+
 		// DEBUG: Log all incoming requests for debugging client compatibility
-		fmt.Printf("DEBUG: Received request - API Key: %d, Version: %d, Correlation: %d, Size: %d\n", 
+		fmt.Printf("DEBUG: Received request - API Key: %d, Version: %d, Correlation: %d, Size: %d\n",
 			apiKey, apiVersion, correlationID, size)
-		
+
 		// TODO: IMPORTANT - API version validation is missing
 		// Different API versions have different request/response formats
 		// Need to validate apiVersion against supported versions for each API
@@ -320,8 +320,9 @@ func (h *Handler) handleApiVersions(correlationID uint32) ([]byte, error) {
 }
 
 func (h *Handler) handleMetadata(correlationID uint32, requestBody []byte) ([]byte, error) {
-	// For now, ignore the request body content (topics filter, etc.)
-	// Build minimal Metadata response
+	// Parse Metadata request to extract requested topics and auto-create them
+	// This implements auto.create.topics.enable=true behavior
+	// Request format: client_id + topics_array (if topics_count > 0)
 	// Response format: correlation_id(4) + throttle_time(4) + brokers + cluster_id + controller_id + topics
 
 	response := make([]byte, 0, 256)
@@ -357,12 +358,122 @@ func (h *Handler) handleMetadata(correlationID uint32, requestBody []byte) ([]by
 	// Controller ID (4 bytes) - -1 (no controller)
 	response = append(response, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF)
 
-	// Topics array length (4 bytes) - 0 topics for now
-	response = append(response, 0, 0, 0, 0)
-
+	// Parse topics from request (for metadata discovery)
+	requestedTopics := h.parseMetadataTopics(requestBody)
+	fmt.Printf("DEBUG: Metadata request for topics: %v (empty=all topics)\n", requestedTopics)
+	
+	// Build topics array response - return existing topics only
+	h.topicsMu.RLock()
+	var topicsToReturn []string
+	if len(requestedTopics) == 0 {
+		// If no specific topics requested, return all existing topics
+		for topicName := range h.topics {
+			topicsToReturn = append(topicsToReturn, topicName)
+		}
+		fmt.Printf("DEBUG: Returning all existing topics: %v\n", topicsToReturn)
+	} else {
+		// Return only requested topics that exist
+		for _, topicName := range requestedTopics {
+			if _, exists := h.topics[topicName]; exists {
+				topicsToReturn = append(topicsToReturn, topicName)
+			}
+		}
+		fmt.Printf("DEBUG: Returning requested existing topics: %v\n", topicsToReturn)
+	}
+	h.topicsMu.RUnlock()
+	
+	// Topics array length (4 bytes)
+	topicsCountBytes := make([]byte, 4)
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint32(topicsCountBytes, uint32(len(topicsToReturn)))
+	response = append(response, topicsCountBytes...)
+	
+	// Build each topic response
+	for _, topicName := range topicsToReturn {
+		// Topic error code (2 bytes) - 0 = no error
+		response = append(response, 0, 0)
+		
+		// Topic name
+		topicNameBytes := []byte(topicName)
+		topicNameLen := make([]byte, 2)
+		binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(topicNameLen, uint16(len(topicNameBytes)))
+		response = append(response, topicNameLen...)
+		response = append(response, topicNameBytes...)
+		
+		// Partitions array length (4 bytes) - 1 partition
+		response = append(response, 0, 0, 0, 1)
+		
+		// Partition 0: error_code(2) + partition_id(4) + leader_id(4) + replicas + isr
+		response = append(response, 0, 0)                   // no error
+		response = append(response, 0, 0, 0, 0)             // partition_id = 0
+		response = append(response, 0, 0, 0, 0)             // leader_id = 0 (this broker)
+		response = append(response, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0) // replicas = [0]
+		response = append(response, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0) // isr = [0]
+	}
+	
+	fmt.Printf("DEBUG: Metadata response for %d topics: %v\n", len(topicsToReturn), topicsToReturn)
 	return response, nil
 }
 
+func (h *Handler) parseMetadataTopics(requestBody []byte) []string {
+	// Parse Metadata request to extract requested topics
+	// Format: client_id + topics_array
+	
+	fmt.Printf("DEBUG: parseMetadataTopics - request body length: %d\n", len(requestBody))
+	if len(requestBody) > 0 {
+		dumpLen := len(requestBody)
+		if dumpLen > 30 {
+			dumpLen = 30
+		}
+		fmt.Printf("DEBUG: parseMetadataTopics - hex dump (first %d bytes): %x\n", dumpLen, requestBody[:dumpLen])
+	}
+	
+	if len(requestBody) < 6 { // at minimum: client_id_size(2) + topics_count(4)
+		fmt.Printf("DEBUG: parseMetadataTopics - request too short (%d bytes), returning empty\n", len(requestBody))
+		return []string{} // Return empty - means "all topics"
+	}
+	
+	// Skip client_id
+	clientIDSize := binary.BigEndian.Uint16(requestBody[0:2])
+	offset := 2 + int(clientIDSize)
+	fmt.Printf("DEBUG: parseMetadataTopics - client ID size: %d, offset after client: %d\n", clientIDSize, offset)
+	
+	if len(requestBody) < offset+4 {
+		fmt.Printf("DEBUG: parseMetadataTopics - not enough bytes for topics count, returning empty\n")
+		return []string{}
+	}
+	
+	// Parse topics count
+	topicsCount := binary.BigEndian.Uint32(requestBody[offset : offset+4])
+	offset += 4
+	fmt.Printf("DEBUG: parseMetadataTopics - topics count: %d, offset after count: %d\n", topicsCount, offset)
+	
+	if topicsCount == 0 {
+		fmt.Printf("DEBUG: parseMetadataTopics - topics count is 0, returning empty (means 'all topics')\n")
+		return []string{} // Return empty - means "all topics"
+	}
+	
+	// Parse each requested topic name
+	topics := make([]string, 0, topicsCount)
+	for i := uint32(0); i < topicsCount && offset < len(requestBody); i++ {
+		if len(requestBody) < offset+2 {
+			break
+		}
+		
+		topicNameSize := binary.BigEndian.Uint16(requestBody[offset : offset+2])
+		offset += 2
+		
+		if len(requestBody) < offset+int(topicNameSize) {
+			break
+		}
+		
+		topicName := string(requestBody[offset : offset+int(topicNameSize)])
+		topics = append(topics, topicName)
+		offset += int(topicNameSize)
+	}
+	
+	return topics
+}
+
 func (h *Handler) handleListOffsets(correlationID uint32, requestBody []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 	// Parse minimal request to understand what's being asked
 	// For this stub, we'll just return stub responses for any requested topic/partition
@@ -499,7 +610,7 @@ func (h *Handler) handleCreateTopics(correlationID uint32, requestBody []byte) (
 	// kafka-go uses v2 which has a different request structure!
 	// The wrong topics count (1274981) shows we're parsing from wrong offset
 	// Need to implement proper v2 request parsing or negotiate API version
-	
+
 	// Parse minimal CreateTopics request
 	// Request format: client_id + timeout(4) + topics_array
 
@@ -510,14 +621,14 @@ func (h *Handler) handleCreateTopics(correlationID uint32, requestBody []byte) (
 	// Skip client_id
 	clientIDSize := binary.BigEndian.Uint16(requestBody[0:2])
 	offset := 2 + int(clientIDSize)
-	
+
 	fmt.Printf("DEBUG: Client ID size: %d, client ID: %s\n", clientIDSize, string(requestBody[2:2+clientIDSize]))
 
 	// CreateTopics v2 has different format than v0
 	// v2 format: client_id + topics_array + timeout(4) + validate_only(1)
 	// (no separate timeout field before topics like in v0)
-	
-	if len(requestBody) < offset+4 { 
+
+	if len(requestBody) < offset+4 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("CreateTopics request missing topics array")
 	}
 
@@ -777,3 +888,24 @@ func (h *Handler) handleDeleteTopics(correlationID uint32, requestBody []byte) (
 
 	return response, nil
 }
+
+// AddTopicForTesting adds a topic directly to the handler (for testing only)
+func (h *Handler) AddTopicForTesting(topicName string, partitions int32) {
+	h.topicsMu.Lock()
+	defer h.topicsMu.Unlock()
+	
+	if _, exists := h.topics[topicName]; !exists {
+		h.topics[topicName] = &TopicInfo{
+			Name:       topicName,
+			Partitions: partitions,
+			CreatedAt:  time.Now().UnixNano(),
+		}
+		
+		// Initialize ledgers for all partitions
+		for partitionID := int32(0); partitionID < partitions; partitionID++ {
+			h.GetOrCreateLedger(topicName, partitionID)
+		}
+		
+		fmt.Printf("DEBUG: Added topic for testing: %s with %d partitions\n", topicName, partitions)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/weed/mq/kafka/protocol/produce.go b/weed/mq/kafka/protocol/produce.go
index c401a3178..b858dc590 100644
--- a/weed/mq/kafka/protocol/produce.go
+++ b/weed/mq/kafka/protocol/produce.go
@@ -65,10 +65,21 @@ func (h *Handler) handleProduce(correlationID uint32, requestBody []byte) ([]byt
 		partitionsCount := binary.BigEndian.Uint32(requestBody[offset : offset+4])
 		offset += 4
 
-		// Check if topic exists
-		h.topicsMu.RLock()
+		// Check if topic exists, auto-create if it doesn't (simulates auto.create.topics.enable=true)
+		h.topicsMu.Lock()
 		_, topicExists := h.topics[topicName]
-		h.topicsMu.RUnlock()
+		if !topicExists {
+			fmt.Printf("DEBUG: Auto-creating topic during Produce: %s\n", topicName)
+			h.topics[topicName] = &TopicInfo{
+				Name:       topicName,
+				Partitions: 1, // Default to 1 partition
+				CreatedAt:  time.Now().UnixNano(),
+			}
+			// Initialize ledger for partition 0
+			h.GetOrCreateLedger(topicName, 0)
+			topicExists = true
+		}
+		h.topicsMu.Unlock()
 
 		// Response: topic_name_size(2) + topic_name + partitions_array
 		response = append(response, byte(topicNameSize>>8), byte(topicNameSize))