diff --git a/kafka/client.py b/kafka/client.py
index c25e2d2bd..ad2a243e5 100644
--- a/kafka/client.py
+++ b/kafka/client.py
@@ -596,7 +596,7 @@ def send_messages_simple(self, topic, *payloads):
         payloads: strings
         """
         messages = tuple([self.create_message(payload) for payload in payloads])
-        self.send_message_set(ProduceRequest(topic, -1, messages))
+        self.send_message_set(ProduceRequest(topic, 0, messages))
 
     def iter_messages(self, topic, partition, offset, size, auto=True):
         """