diff --git a/server/consumer.go b/server/consumer.go
index 8215dd01..358d3647 100644
--- a/server/consumer.go
+++ b/server/consumer.go
@@ -544,6 +544,15 @@ func (mset *stream) addConsumerWithAssignment(config *ConsumerConfig, oname stri
 	o.ackEventT = JSMetricConsumerAckPre + "." + o.stream + "." + o.name
 	o.deliveryExcEventT = JSAdvisoryConsumerMaxDeliveryExceedPre + "." + o.stream + "." + o.name
 
+	if !isValidName(o.name) {
+		mset.mu.Unlock()
+		o.deleteWithoutAdvisory()
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("durable name can not contain '.', '*', '>'")
+	}
+
+	// Select starting sequence number
+	o.selectStartingSeqNo()
+
 	if !config.Direct {
 		store, err := mset.store.ConsumerStore(o.name, config)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -554,15 +563,6 @@ func (mset *stream) addConsumerWithAssignment(config *ConsumerConfig, oname stri
 		o.store = store
 	}
 
-	if !isValidName(o.name) {
-		mset.mu.Unlock()
-		o.deleteWithoutAdvisory()
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("durable name can not contain '.', '*', '>'")
-	}
-
-	// Select starting sequence number
-	o.selectStartingSeqNo()
-
 	// Now register with mset and create the ack subscription.
 	// Check if we already have this one registered.
 	if eo, ok := mset.consumers[o.name]; ok {
@@ -1604,7 +1604,7 @@ func (o *consumer) needAck(sseq uint64) bool {
 		state, err := o.store.State()
 		if err != nil || state == nil {
 			// Fall back to what we track internally for now.
-			needsAck := sseq > o.asflr
+			needsAck := sseq > o.asflr && o.cfg.FilterSubject == _EMPTY_
 			o.mu.RUnlock()
 			return needsAck
 		}