diff --git a/src/client-cohttp-lwt/opentelemetry_client_cohttp_lwt.ml b/src/client-cohttp-lwt/opentelemetry_client_cohttp_lwt.ml
index 5b4f0453..b078c5b2 100644
--- a/src/client-cohttp-lwt/opentelemetry_client_cohttp_lwt.ml
+++ b/src/client-cohttp-lwt/opentelemetry_client_cohttp_lwt.ml
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ module type EMITTER = sig
 
   val push_logs : Logs.resource_logs list -> unit
 
-  val set_on_tick_callbacks : (unit -> unit) list ref -> unit
+  val set_on_tick_callbacks : (unit -> unit) AList.t -> unit
 
   val tick : unit -> unit
 
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ let mk_emitter ~stop ~(config : Config.t) () : (module EMITTER) =
     let batch_logs : Logs.resource_logs list Batch.t =
       Batch.make ?batch:config.batch_logs ?timeout ()
 
-    let on_tick_cbs_ = Atomic.make (ref [])
+    let on_tick_cbs_ = Atomic.make (AList.make ())
 
     let set_on_tick_callbacks = Atomic.set on_tick_cbs_
 
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ let mk_emitter ~stop ~(config : Config.t) () : (module EMITTER) =
           with e ->
             Printf.eprintf "on tick callback raised: %s\n"
               (Printexc.to_string e))
-        !(Atomic.get on_tick_cbs_);
+        (AList.get @@ Atomic.get on_tick_cbs_);
       ()
 
     (* thread that calls [tick()] regularly, to help enforce timeouts *)
diff --git a/src/client-ocurl/config.ml b/src/client-ocurl/config.ml
index 0abca7e1..2ea68fb7 100644
--- a/src/client-ocurl/config.ml
+++ b/src/client-ocurl/config.ml
@@ -7,20 +7,42 @@ type t = {
   batch_timeout_ms: int;
   bg_threads: int;
   ticker_thread: bool;
+  ticker_interval_ms: int;
+  self_trace: bool;
 }
 
 let pp out self =
   let pp_header ppf (a, b) = Format.fprintf ppf "@[%s: @,%s@]@." a b in
   let ppheaders = Format.pp_print_list pp_header in
-  let { debug; url; headers; batch_timeout_ms; bg_threads; ticker_thread } =
+  let {
+    debug;
+    url;
+    headers;
+    batch_timeout_ms;
+    bg_threads;
+    ticker_thread;
+    ticker_interval_ms;
+    self_trace;
+  } =
     self
   in
   Format.fprintf out
     "{@[ debug=%B;@ url=%S;@ headers=%a;@ batch_timeout_ms=%d; bg_threads=%d;@ \
-     ticker_thread=%B @]}"
+     ticker_thread=%B;@ ticker_interval_ms=%d;@ self_trace=%B @]}"
     debug url ppheaders headers batch_timeout_ms bg_threads ticker_thread
+    ticker_interval_ms self_trace
 
 let make ?(debug = !debug_) ?(url = get_url ()) ?(headers = get_headers ())
-    ?(batch_timeout_ms = 500) ?(bg_threads = 4) ?(ticker_thread = true) () : t =
-  let bg_threads = max 2 (min bg_threads 32) in
-  { debug; url; headers; batch_timeout_ms; bg_threads; ticker_thread }
+    ?(batch_timeout_ms = 2_000) ?(bg_threads = 4) ?(ticker_thread = true)
+    ?(ticker_interval_ms = 500) ?(self_trace = false) () : t =
+  let bg_threads = max 1 (min bg_threads 32) in
+  {
+    debug;
+    url;
+    headers;
+    batch_timeout_ms;
+    bg_threads;
+    ticker_thread;
+    ticker_interval_ms;
+    self_trace;
+  }
diff --git a/src/client-ocurl/config.mli b/src/client-ocurl/config.mli
index 17a7711e..dfc35c08 100644
--- a/src/client-ocurl/config.mli
+++ b/src/client-ocurl/config.mli
@@ -12,12 +12,24 @@ type t = private {
       (** Number of milliseconds after which we will emit a batch, even
       incomplete.
       Note that the batch might take longer than that, because this is
-      only checked when a new event occurs. Default 500. *)
+      only checked when a new event occurs or when a tick
+      is emitted. Default 2_000. *)
   bg_threads: int;
-      (** Are there background threads, and how many? Default [4] *)
+      (** Are there background threads, and how many? Default [4].
+            This will be adjusted to be at least [1] and at most [32]. *)
   ticker_thread: bool;
       (** If true, start a thread that regularly checks if signals should
           be sent to the collector. Default [true] *)
+  ticker_interval_ms: int;
+      (** Interval for ticker thread, in milliseconds. This is
+          only useful if [ticker_thread] is [true].
+          This will be clamped between [2 ms] and some longer
+          interval (maximum [60s] currently).
+      Default 500.
+      @since NEXT_RELEASE *)
+  self_trace: bool;
+      (** If true, the OTEL library will also emit its own spans. Default [false].
+          @since NEXT_RELEASE *)
 }
 (** Configuration.
 
@@ -31,6 +43,8 @@ val make :
   ?batch_timeout_ms:int ->
   ?bg_threads:int ->
   ?ticker_thread:bool ->
+  ?ticker_interval_ms:int ->
+  ?self_trace:bool ->
   unit ->
   t
 (** Make a configuration.
diff --git a/src/client-ocurl/opentelemetry_client_ocurl.ml b/src/client-ocurl/opentelemetry_client_ocurl.ml
index 29e11fa4..813eec55 100644
--- a/src/client-ocurl/opentelemetry_client_ocurl.ml
+++ b/src/client-ocurl/opentelemetry_client_ocurl.ml
@@ -17,6 +17,33 @@ let timeout_gc_metrics = Mtime.Span.(20 * s)
 (** side channel for GC, appended to metrics batch data *)
 let gc_metrics = AList.make ()
 
+(** Mini tracing module (disabled if [config.self_trace=false]) *)
+module Self_trace = struct
+  let enabled = Atomic.make true
+
+  let add_event (scope : Scope.t) ev = scope.events <- ev :: scope.events
+
+  let dummy_trace_id_ = Trace_id.create ()
+
+  let dummy_span_id = Span_id.create ()
+
+  let with_ ?kind ?attrs name f =
+    if Atomic.get enabled then
+      Opentelemetry.Trace.with_ ?kind ?attrs name f
+    else (
+      (* do nothing *)
+      let scope =
+        {
+          Scope.trace_id = dummy_trace_id_;
+          span_id = dummy_span_id;
+          attrs = [];
+          events = [];
+        }
+      in
+      f scope
+    )
+end
+
 (** capture current GC metrics if {!needs_gc_metrics} is true
     or it has been a long time since the last GC metrics collection,
     and push them into {!gc_metrics} for later collection *)
@@ -120,9 +147,19 @@ end = struct
 
   let send_http_ ~stop ~config (client : Curl.t) encoder ~path ~encode x : unit
       =
-    Pbrt.Encoder.reset encoder;
-    encode x encoder;
-    let data = Pbrt.Encoder.to_string encoder in
+    let@ _sc =
+      Self_trace.with_ ~kind:Span.Span_kind_producer "otel-ocurl.send-http"
+    in
+
+    let data =
+      let@ _sc =
+        Self_trace.with_ ~kind:Span.Span_kind_internal "encode-proto"
+      in
+      Pbrt.Encoder.reset encoder;
+      encode x encoder;
+      Pbrt.Encoder.to_string encoder
+    in
+
     let url =
       let url = config.Config.url in
       if url <> "" && String.get url (String.length url - 1) = '/' then
@@ -138,11 +175,18 @@ end = struct
       ("Content-Type", "application/x-protobuf") :: config.headers
     in
     match
+      let@ _sc =
+        Self_trace.with_ ~kind:Span.Span_kind_internal "curl.post"
+          ~attrs:[ "sz", `Int (String.length data); "url", `String url ]
+      in
       Ezcurl.post ~headers ~client ~params:[] ~url ~content:(`String data) ()
     with
     | Ok { code; _ } when code >= 200 && code < 300 -> ()
     | Ok { code; body; headers = _; info = _ } ->
       Atomic.incr n_errors;
+      Self_trace.add_event _sc
+      @@ Opentelemetry.Event.make "error" ~attrs:[ "code", `Int code ];
+
       if !debug_ || config.debug then (
         let dec = Pbrt.Decoder.of_string body in
         let body =
@@ -171,6 +215,11 @@ end = struct
   let send_logs_http ~stop ~config (client : Curl.t) encoder
       (l : Logs.resource_logs list list) : unit =
     let l = List.fold_left (fun acc l -> List.rev_append l acc) [] l in
+    let@ _sp =
+      Self_trace.with_ ~kind:Span_kind_producer "send-logs"
+        ~attrs:[ "n", `Int (List.length l) ]
+    in
+
     let x =
       Logs_service.default_export_logs_service_request ~resource_logs:l ()
     in
@@ -180,6 +229,11 @@ end = struct
   let send_metrics_http ~stop ~config curl encoder
       (l : Metrics.resource_metrics list list) : unit =
     let l = List.fold_left (fun acc l -> List.rev_append l acc) [] l in
+    let@ _sp =
+      Self_trace.with_ ~kind:Span_kind_producer "send-metrics"
+        ~attrs:[ "n", `Int (List.length l) ]
+    in
+
     let x =
       Metrics_service.default_export_metrics_service_request ~resource_metrics:l
         ()
@@ -190,6 +244,11 @@ end = struct
   let send_traces_http ~stop ~config curl encoder
       (l : Trace.resource_spans list list) : unit =
     let l = List.fold_left (fun acc l -> List.rev_append l acc) [] l in
+    let@ _sp =
+      Self_trace.with_ ~kind:Span_kind_producer "send-traces"
+        ~attrs:[ "n", `Int (List.length l) ]
+    in
+
     let x =
       Trace_service.default_export_trace_service_request ~resource_spans:l ()
     in
@@ -248,8 +307,8 @@ end = struct
     in
 
     let send_metrics () =
-      B_queue.push self.send_q
-        (To_send.Send_metric (Batch.pop_all batches.metrics))
+      let metrics = AList.pop_all gc_metrics :: Batch.pop_all batches.metrics in
+      B_queue.push self.send_q (To_send.Send_metric metrics)
     in
 
     let send_logs () =
@@ -266,39 +325,36 @@ end = struct
         (* read multiple events at once *)
         B_queue.pop_all self.q local_q;
 
-        let now = Mtime_clock.now () in
+        (* are we asked to flush all events? *)
+        let must_flush_all = ref false in
 
         (* how to process a single event *)
         let process_ev (ev : Event.t) : unit =
           match ev with
-          | Event.E_metric m ->
-            Batch.push batches.metrics m;
-            if should_send_batch_ ~config ~now batches.metrics then
-              send_metrics ()
-          | Event.E_trace tr ->
-            Batch.push batches.traces tr;
-            if should_send_batch_ ~config ~now batches.traces then
-              send_traces ()
-          | Event.E_logs logs ->
-            Batch.push batches.logs logs;
-            if should_send_batch_ ~config ~now batches.logs then send_logs ()
+          | Event.E_metric m -> Batch.push batches.metrics m
+          | Event.E_trace tr -> Batch.push batches.traces tr
+          | Event.E_logs logs -> Batch.push batches.logs logs
           | Event.E_tick ->
-            (* check for batches whose timeout expired *)
-            if should_send_batch_ ~config ~now batches.metrics then
-              send_metrics ();
-            if should_send_batch_ ~config ~now batches.logs then send_logs ();
-            if should_send_batch_ ~config ~now batches.traces then
-              send_traces ()
-          | Event.E_flush_all ->
-            if Batch.len batches.metrics > 0 then send_metrics ();
-            if Batch.len batches.logs > 0 then send_logs ();
-            if Batch.len batches.traces > 0 then send_traces ()
+            (* the only impact of "tick" is that it wakes us up regularly *)
+            ()
+          | Event.E_flush_all -> must_flush_all := true
         in
 
-        while not (Queue.is_empty local_q) do
-          let ev = Queue.pop local_q in
-          process_ev ev
-        done
+        Queue.iter process_ev local_q;
+        Queue.clear local_q;
+
+        if !must_flush_all then (
+          if Batch.len batches.metrics > 0 then send_metrics ();
+          if Batch.len batches.logs > 0 then send_logs ();
+          if Batch.len batches.traces > 0 then send_traces ()
+        ) else (
+          let now = Mtime_clock.now () in
+          if should_send_batch_ ~config ~now batches.metrics then
+            send_metrics ();
+
+          if should_send_batch_ ~config ~now batches.traces then send_traces ();
+          if should_send_batch_ ~config ~now batches.logs then send_logs ()
+        )
       done
     with B_queue.Closed -> ()
 
@@ -418,15 +474,14 @@ let create_backend ?(stop = Atomic.make false)
             ret ());
       }
 
-    let on_tick_cbs_ = Atomic.make (ref [])
+    let on_tick_cbs_ = Atomic.make (AList.make ())
 
     let set_on_tick_callbacks = Atomic.set on_tick_cbs_
 
     let tick () =
       sample_gc_metrics_if_needed ();
       Backend_impl.send_event backend Event.E_tick;
-      let l = Atomic.get on_tick_cbs_ in
-      List.iter (fun f -> f ()) !l
+      List.iter (fun f -> f ()) (AList.get @@ Atomic.get on_tick_cbs_)
 
     let cleanup () = Backend_impl.shutdown backend
   end in
@@ -451,9 +506,11 @@ let setup_ ?(stop = Atomic.make false) ?(config : Config.t = Config.make ()) ()
   Opentelemetry.Collector.set_backend backend;
 
   if config.url <> get_url () then set_url config.url;
+  Atomic.set Self_trace.enabled config.self_trace;
 
   if config.ticker_thread then (
-    let sleep_ms = min 5_000 (max 2 config.batch_timeout_ms) in
+    (* at most a minute *)
+    let sleep_ms = min 60_000 (max 2 config.ticker_interval_ms) in
     ignore (setup_ticker_thread ~stop ~sleep_ms backend () : Thread.t)
   );
 
diff --git a/src/client-ocurl/AList.ml b/src/core/AList.ml
similarity index 94%
rename from src/client-ocurl/AList.ml
rename to src/core/AList.ml
index 9b7d47df..faec8000 100644
--- a/src/client-ocurl/AList.ml
+++ b/src/core/AList.ml
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ type 'a t = 'a list Atomic.t
 
 let make () = Atomic.make []
 
+let get = Atomic.get
+
 let add self x =
   while
     let old = Atomic.get self in
diff --git a/src/client-ocurl/AList.mli b/src/core/AList.mli
similarity index 72%
rename from src/client-ocurl/AList.mli
rename to src/core/AList.mli
index b4c718dd..4799dd6b 100644
--- a/src/client-ocurl/AList.mli
+++ b/src/core/AList.mli
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 
 type 'a t
 
+val get : 'a t -> 'a list
+(** Snapshot *)
+
 val make : unit -> 'a t
 
 val add : 'a t -> 'a -> unit
diff --git a/src/core/opentelemetry.ml b/src/core/opentelemetry.ml
index cc5186e2..e8568863 100644
--- a/src/core/opentelemetry.ml
+++ b/src/core/opentelemetry.ml
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ module Lock = Lock
 module Rand_bytes = Rand_bytes
 (** Generation of random identifiers. *)
 
+module AList = AList
+(** Atomic list, for internal usage
+    @since NEXT_RELEASE *)
+
 open struct
   let[@inline] result_bind x f =
     match x with
@@ -82,7 +86,7 @@ module Collector = struct
     (** Should be called regularly for background processing,
         timeout checks, etc. *)
 
-    val set_on_tick_callbacks : (unit -> unit) list ref -> unit
+    val set_on_tick_callbacks : (unit -> unit) AList.t -> unit
     (** Give the collector the list of callbacks to be executed
         when [tick()] is called. Each such callback should be short and
         reentrant. Depending on the collector's implementation, it might be
@@ -158,7 +162,7 @@ module Collector = struct
 
   (* hidden *)
   open struct
-    let on_tick_cbs_ = ref []
+    let on_tick_cbs_ = AList.make ()
 
     let backend : backend option ref = ref None
   end
@@ -194,7 +198,7 @@ module Collector = struct
 
   let[@inline] rand_bytes_8 () = !Rand_bytes.rand_bytes_8 ()
 
-  let on_tick f = on_tick_cbs_ := f :: !on_tick_cbs_
+  let[@inline] on_tick f = AList.add on_tick_cbs_ f
 
   (** Do background work. Call this regularly if the collector doesn't
       already have a ticker thread or internal timer. *)
@@ -1134,7 +1138,8 @@ end
     These metrics are emitted after each GC collection. *)
 module GC_metrics : sig
   val basic_setup : unit -> unit
-  (** Setup a hook that will emit GC statistics regularly *)
+  (** Setup a hook that will emit GC statistics on every tick (assuming
+      a ticker thread) *)
 
   val get_runtime_attributes : unit -> Span.key_value list
   (** Get OCaml name and version runtime attributes *)
@@ -1154,13 +1159,12 @@ end = struct
   let get_runtime_attributes () = Lazy.force runtime_attributes
 
   let basic_setup () =
-    (* emit metrics when GC is called *)
-    let on_gc () =
+    let on_tick () =
       match Collector.get_backend () with
       | None -> ()
       | Some (module C) -> C.signal_emit_gc_metrics ()
     in
-    ignore (Gc.create_alarm on_gc : Gc.alarm)
+    Collector.on_tick on_tick
 
   let bytes_per_word = Sys.word_size / 8
 
diff --git a/tests/bin/emit1.ml b/tests/bin/emit1.ml
index 179ddc78..cf40e2ef 100644
--- a/tests/bin/emit1.ml
+++ b/tests/bin/emit1.ml
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ let () =
   Arg.parse opts (fun _ -> ()) "emit1 [opt]*";
 
   let config =
-    Opentelemetry_client_ocurl.Config.make ~debug:!debug
+    Opentelemetry_client_ocurl.Config.make ~debug:!debug ~self_trace:true
       ?bg_threads:
         (let n = !n_bg_threads in
          if n = 0 then