diff --git a/dune b/dune
index f2eef302..815c0f49 100644
--- a/dune
+++ b/dune
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 (env
  (_
-  (flags :standard -warn-error -a+8)))
+  (flags :standard -warn-error -a+8 -strict-sequence)))
diff --git a/src/client/FQueue.ml b/src/client/FQueue.ml
deleted file mode 100644
index ce04dad3..00000000
--- a/src/client/FQueue.ml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,27 +0,0 @@
-type 'a t = {
-  arr: 'a array;
-  mutable i: int;
-}
-
-let create ~dummy n : _ t =
-  assert (n >= 1);
-  { arr = Array.make n dummy; i = 0 }
-
-let[@inline] size self = self.i
-
-let[@inline] is_full self = self.i = Array.length self.arr
-
-let push (self : _ t) x : bool =
-  if is_full self then
-    false
-  else (
-    self.arr.(self.i) <- x;
-    self.i <- 1 + self.i;
-    true
-  )
-
-let pop_iter_all (self : _ t) f =
-  for j = 0 to self.i - 1 do
-    f self.arr.(j)
-  done;
-  self.i <- 0
diff --git a/src/client/FQueue.mli b/src/client/FQueue.mli
deleted file mode 100644
index 0a03b00d..00000000
--- a/src/client/FQueue.mli
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-(** queue of fixed size *)
-
-type 'a t
-
-val create : dummy:'a -> int -> 'a t
-
-val size : _ t -> int
-
-val push : 'a t -> 'a -> bool (* true iff it could write element *)
-
-val pop_iter_all : 'a t -> ('a -> unit) -> unit
diff --git a/src/client/opentelemetry_client_ocurl.ml b/src/client/opentelemetry_client_ocurl.ml
index c69c4245..9ea214bf 100644
--- a/src/client/opentelemetry_client_ocurl.ml
+++ b/src/client/opentelemetry_client_ocurl.ml
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ let _init_curl =
 type error =
   [ `Status of int * Opentelemetry.Proto.Status.status
   | `Failure of string
+  | `Sysbreak
   ]
 
 let n_errors = Atomic.make 0
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ let n_errors = Atomic.make 0
 let n_dropped = Atomic.make 0
 
 let report_err_ = function
+  | `Sysbreak -> Printf.eprintf "opentelemetry: ctrl-c captured, stopping\n%!"
   | `Failure msg ->
     Format.eprintf "@[<2>opentelemetry: export failed: %s@]@." msg
   | `Status (code, status) ->
@@ -112,6 +114,7 @@ module Curl () : CURL = struct
           let status = Status.decode_status dec in
           Error (`Status (code, status))
         )
+      | exception Sys.Break -> Error `Sysbreak
       | exception Curl.CurlException (_, code, msg) ->
         let status =
           Status.default_status ~code:(Int32.of_int code)
@@ -119,19 +122,95 @@ module Curl () : CURL = struct
             ()
         in
         Error (`Status (code, status))
-    with e -> Error (`Failure (Printexc.to_string e))
+    with
+    | Sys.Break -> Error `Sysbreak
+    | e -> Error (`Failure (Printexc.to_string e))
 end
 
-module type PUSH = sig
-  type elt
+module type BATCH = sig end
 
-  val push : elt -> unit
+module Batch : sig
+  type 'a t
 
-  val is_empty : unit -> bool
+  val push : 'a t -> 'a -> bool
+  (** [push batch x] pushes [x] into the batch, and heuristically
+      returns [true] if the batch is ready to be emitted (to know if we should
+      wake up the sending thread, if any) *)
 
-  val is_big_enough : unit -> bool
+  val push' : 'a t -> 'a -> unit
 
-  val pop_iter_all : (elt -> unit) -> unit
+  val is_ready : now:Mtime.t -> _ t -> bool
+  (** is the batch ready to be sent? This is heuristic. *)
+
+  val pop_if_ready : ?force:bool -> now:Mtime.t -> 'a t -> 'a list option
+  (** Is the batch ready to be emitted? If batching is disabled,
+      this is true as soon as {!is_empty} is false. If a timeout is provided
+      for this batch, then it will be ready if an element has been in it
+      for at least the timeout.
+      @param now passed to implement timeout *)
+
+  val make : ?batch:int -> ?timeout:Mtime.span -> unit -> 'a t
+end = struct
+  type 'a t = {
+    lock: Mutex.t;
+    mutable size: int;
+    mutable q: 'a list;
+    batch: int option;
+    timeout: Mtime.span option;
+    mutable start: Mtime.t;
+  }
+
+  let make ?batch ?timeout () : _ t =
+    {
+      lock = Mutex.create ();
+      size = 0;
+      start = Mtime_clock.now ();
+      q = [];
+      batch;
+      timeout;
+    }
+
+  let is_empty_ self = self.size = 0
+
+  let timeout_expired_ ~now self : bool =
+    match self.timeout with
+    | Some t ->
+      let elapsed = Mtime.span now self.start in
+      Mtime.Span.compare elapsed t >= 0
+    | None -> false
+
+  let is_full_ self : bool =
+    match self.batch with
+    | None -> self.size > 0
+    | Some b -> self.size >= b
+
+  let is_ready ~now self : bool =
+    let@ () = with_mutex_ self.lock in
+    is_full_ self || timeout_expired_ ~now self
+
+  let pop_if_ready ?(force = false) ~now (self : _ t) : _ list option =
+    let@ () = with_mutex_ self.lock in
+    if
+      (force && not (is_empty_ self))
+      || is_full_ self || timeout_expired_ ~now self
+    then (
+      let l = self.q in
+      self.q <- [];
+      self.size <- 0;
+      Some l
+    ) else
+      None
+
+  let push (self : _ t) x : bool =
+    let@ () = with_mutex_ self.lock in
+    if self.size = 0 && Option.is_some self.timeout then
+      self.start <- Mtime_clock.now ();
+    self.size <- 1 + self.size;
+    self.q <- x :: self.q;
+    let ready = is_full_ self in
+    ready
+
+  let push' self x = ignore (push self x : bool)
 end
 
 (** An emitter. This is used by {!Backend} below to forward traces/metrics/…
@@ -152,57 +231,6 @@ module type EMITTER = sig
   val cleanup : unit -> unit
 end
 
-type 'a push = (module PUSH with type elt = 'a)
-
-type on_full_cb = unit -> unit
-
-(* make a "push" object, along with a setter for a callback to call when
-   it's ready to emit a batch *)
-let mk_push (type a) ?batch () :
-    (module PUSH with type elt = a) * (on_full_cb -> unit) =
-  let on_full : on_full_cb ref = ref ignore in
-  let push =
-    match batch with
-    | None ->
-      let r = ref None in
-      let module M = struct
-        type elt = a
-
-        let is_empty () = !r == None
-
-        let is_big_enough () = !r != None
-
-        let push x =
-          r := Some x;
-          !on_full ()
-
-        let pop_iter_all f =
-          Option.iter f !r;
-          r := None
-      end in
-      (module M : PUSH with type elt = a)
-    | Some n ->
-      let q = FQueue.create ~dummy:(Obj.magic 0) (3 * n) in
-      let module M = struct
-        type elt = a
-
-        let is_empty () = FQueue.size q = 0
-
-        let is_big_enough () = FQueue.size q >= n
-
-        let push x =
-          if (not (FQueue.push q x)) || FQueue.size q > n then (
-            !on_full ();
-            if not (FQueue.push q x) then Atomic.incr n_dropped (* drop item *)
-          )
-
-        let pop_iter_all f = FQueue.pop_iter_all q f
-      end in
-      (module M : PUSH with type elt = a)
-  in
-
-  push, ( := ) on_full
-
 (* start a thread in the background, running [f()] *)
 let start_bg_thread (f : unit -> unit) : unit =
   let run () =
@@ -224,169 +252,145 @@ let batch_is_empty = List.for_all l_is_empty
    https://opentelemetry.io/docs/reference/specification/error-handling/ *)
 let mk_emitter ~(config : Config.t) () : (module EMITTER) =
   let open Proto in
-  let continue = ref true in
+  (* local helpers *)
+  let open struct
+    let continue = Atomic.make true
 
-  let ((module E_trace) : Trace.resource_spans list push), on_trace_full =
-    mk_push ?batch:config.batch_traces ()
-  in
-  let ((module E_metrics) : Metrics.resource_metrics list push), on_metrics_full
-      =
-    mk_push ?batch:config.batch_metrics ()
-  in
-  let ((module E_logs) : Logs.resource_logs list push), on_logs_full =
-    mk_push ?batch:config.batch_logs ()
-  in
+    let timeout =
+      if config.batch_timeout_ms > 0 then
+        Some Mtime.Span.(config.batch_timeout_ms * ms)
+      else
+        None
 
-  let encoder = Pbrt.Encoder.create () in
+    let batch_traces : Trace.resource_spans list Batch.t =
+      Batch.make ?batch:config.batch_traces ?timeout ()
 
-  let ((module C) as curl) = (module Curl () : CURL) in
+    let batch_metrics : Metrics.resource_metrics list Batch.t =
+      Batch.make ?batch:config.batch_metrics ?timeout ()
 
-  let on_tick_cbs_ = ref (ref []) in
-  let set_on_tick_callbacks = ( := ) on_tick_cbs_ in
+    let batch_logs : Logs.resource_logs list Batch.t =
+      Batch.make ?batch:config.batch_logs ?timeout ()
 
-  let send_http_ ~path ~encode x : unit =
-    Pbrt.Encoder.reset encoder;
-    encode x encoder;
-    let data = Pbrt.Encoder.to_string encoder in
-    match C.send ~path ~decode:(fun _ -> ()) data with
-    | Ok () -> ()
-    | Error err ->
-      (* TODO: log error _via_ otel? *)
-      Atomic.incr n_errors;
-      report_err_ err
-  in
+    let encoder = Pbrt.Encoder.create ()
 
-  let send_metrics_http (l : Metrics.resource_metrics list list) =
-    let l = List.fold_left (fun acc l -> List.rev_append l acc) [] l in
-    let x =
-      Metrics_service.default_export_metrics_service_request ~resource_metrics:l
-        ()
-    in
-    send_http_ ~path:"/v1/metrics"
-      ~encode:Metrics_service.encode_export_metrics_service_request x
-  in
+    let curl = (module Curl () : CURL)
 
-  let send_traces_http (l : Trace.resource_spans list list) =
-    let l = List.fold_left (fun acc l -> List.rev_append l acc) [] l in
-    let x =
-      Trace_service.default_export_trace_service_request ~resource_spans:l ()
-    in
-    send_http_ ~path:"/v1/traces"
-      ~encode:Trace_service.encode_export_trace_service_request x
-  in
+    module C = (val curl)
 
-  let send_logs_http (l : Logs.resource_logs list list) =
-    let l = List.fold_left (fun acc l -> List.rev_append l acc) [] l in
-    let x =
-      Logs_service.default_export_logs_service_request ~resource_logs:l ()
-    in
-    send_http_ ~path:"/v1/logs"
-      ~encode:Logs_service.encode_export_logs_service_request x
-  in
+    let on_tick_cbs_ = ref (ref [])
 
-  let last_wakeup = Atomic.make (Mtime_clock.now ()) in
-  let timeout = Mtime.Span.(config.batch_timeout_ms * ms) in
-  let batch_timeout () : bool =
-    let elapsed = Mtime.span (Mtime_clock.now ()) (Atomic.get last_wakeup) in
-    Mtime.Span.compare elapsed timeout >= 0
-  in
+    let set_on_tick_callbacks = ( := ) on_tick_cbs_
 
-  let emit_metrics ?(force = false) () : bool =
-    if force || ((not force) && E_metrics.is_big_enough ()) then (
-      let batch = ref [ AList.pop_all gc_metrics ] in
-      E_metrics.pop_iter_all (fun l -> batch := l :: !batch);
-      let do_something = not (l_is_empty !batch) in
-      if do_something then (
-        send_metrics_http !batch;
-        Atomic.set last_wakeup (Mtime_clock.now ())
-      );
-      do_something
-    ) else
-      false
-  in
-  let emit_traces ?(force = false) () : bool =
-    if force || ((not force) && E_trace.is_big_enough ()) then (
-      let batch = ref [] in
-      E_trace.pop_iter_all (fun l -> batch := l :: !batch);
-      let do_something = not (l_is_empty !batch) in
-      if do_something then (
-        send_traces_http !batch;
-        Atomic.set last_wakeup (Mtime_clock.now ())
-      );
-      do_something
-    ) else
-      false
-  in
-  let emit_logs ?(force = false) () : bool =
-    if force || ((not force) && E_logs.is_big_enough ()) then (
-      let batch = ref [] in
-      E_logs.pop_iter_all (fun l -> batch := l :: !batch);
-      let do_something = not (l_is_empty !batch) in
-      if do_something then (
-        send_logs_http !batch;
-        Atomic.set last_wakeup (Mtime_clock.now ())
-      );
-      do_something
-    ) else
-      false
-  in
+    let send_http_ ~path ~encode x : unit =
+      Pbrt.Encoder.reset encoder;
+      encode x encoder;
+      let data = Pbrt.Encoder.to_string encoder in
+      match C.send ~path ~decode:(fun _ -> ()) data with
+      | Ok () -> ()
+      | Error `Sysbreak ->
+        Printf.eprintf "ctrl-c captured, stopping\n%!";
+        Atomic.set continue false
+      | Error err ->
+        (* TODO: log error _via_ otel? *)
+        Atomic.incr n_errors;
+        report_err_ err
 
-  let[@inline] guard f =
-    try f ()
-    with e ->
-      Printf.eprintf "opentelemetry-curl: uncaught exception: %s\n%!"
-        (Printexc.to_string e)
-  in
+    let send_metrics_http (l : Metrics.resource_metrics list list) =
+      let l = List.fold_left (fun acc l -> List.rev_append l acc) [] l in
+      let x =
+        Metrics_service.default_export_metrics_service_request
+          ~resource_metrics:l ()
+      in
+      send_http_ ~path:"/v1/metrics"
+        ~encode:Metrics_service.encode_export_metrics_service_request x
 
-  let emit_all_force () =
-    ignore (emit_traces ~force:true () : bool);
-    ignore (emit_logs ~force:true () : bool);
-    ignore (emit_metrics ~force:true () : bool)
-  in
+    let send_traces_http (l : Trace.resource_spans list list) =
+      let l = List.fold_left (fun acc l -> List.rev_append l acc) [] l in
+      let x =
+        Trace_service.default_export_trace_service_request ~resource_spans:l ()
+      in
+      send_http_ ~path:"/v1/traces"
+        ~encode:Trace_service.encode_export_trace_service_request x
 
+    let send_logs_http (l : Logs.resource_logs list list) =
+      let l = List.fold_left (fun acc l -> List.rev_append l acc) [] l in
+      let x =
+        Logs_service.default_export_logs_service_request ~resource_logs:l ()
+      in
+      send_http_ ~path:"/v1/logs"
+        ~encode:Logs_service.encode_export_logs_service_request x
+
+    (* emit metrics, if the batch is full or timeout lapsed *)
+    let emit_metrics_maybe ~now ?force () : bool =
+      match Batch.pop_if_ready ?force ~now batch_metrics with
+      | None -> false
+      | Some l ->
+        let batch = AList.pop_all gc_metrics :: l in
+        send_metrics_http batch;
+        true
+
+    let emit_traces_maybe ~now ?force () : bool =
+      match Batch.pop_if_ready ?force ~now batch_traces with
+      | None -> false
+      | Some l ->
+        send_traces_http l;
+        true
+
+    let emit_logs_maybe ~now ?force () : bool =
+      match Batch.pop_if_ready ?force ~now batch_logs with
+      | None -> false
+      | Some l ->
+        send_logs_http l;
+        true
+
+    let[@inline] guard_exn_ f =
+      try f ()
+      with e ->
+        Printf.eprintf "opentelemetry-curl: uncaught exception: %s\n%!"
+          (Printexc.to_string e)
+
+    let emit_all_force () =
+      let now = Mtime_clock.now () in
+      ignore (emit_traces_maybe ~now ~force:true () : bool);
+      ignore (emit_logs_maybe ~now ~force:true () : bool);
+      ignore (emit_metrics_maybe ~now ~force:true () : bool)
+  end in
   if config.thread then (
     (let m = Mutex.create () in
      Lock.set_mutex
        ~lock:(fun () -> Mutex.lock m)
        ~unlock:(fun () -> Mutex.unlock m));
 
-    let ((module C) as curl) = (module Curl () : CURL) in
-
     let m = Mutex.create () in
     let cond = Condition.create () in
 
     (* loop for the thread that processes events and sends them to collector *)
     let bg_thread () =
-      while !continue do
-        let@ () = guard in
-        let timeout = batch_timeout () in
+      while Atomic.get continue do
+        let@ () = guard_exn_ in
 
-        let do_metrics = emit_metrics ~force:timeout () in
-        let do_traces = emit_traces ~force:timeout () in
-        let do_logs = emit_logs ~force:timeout () in
+        let now = Mtime_clock.now () in
+        let do_metrics = emit_metrics_maybe ~now () in
+        let do_traces = emit_traces_maybe ~now () in
+        let do_logs = emit_logs_maybe ~now () in
         if (not do_metrics) && (not do_traces) && not do_logs then
-          (* wait *)
+          (* wait for something to happen *)
           let@ () = with_mutex_ m in
           Condition.wait cond m
       done;
-      (* flush remaining events *)
-      let@ () = guard in
-      ignore (emit_traces ~force:true () : bool);
-      ignore (emit_metrics ~force:true () : bool);
-      ignore (emit_logs ~force:true () : bool);
+      (* flush remaining events once we exit *)
+      let@ () = guard_exn_ in
+      emit_all_force ();
       C.cleanup ()
     in
     start_bg_thread bg_thread;
 
+    (* if the bg thread waits, this will wake it up so it can send batches *)
     let wakeup () =
-      with_mutex_ m (fun () -> Condition.signal cond);
+      with_mutex_ m (fun () -> Condition.broadcast cond);
       Thread.yield ()
     in
 
-    (* wake up if a batch is full *)
-    on_metrics_full wakeup;
-    on_trace_full wakeup;
-
     let tick () =
       if Atomic.get needs_gc_metrics then sample_gc_metrics ();
       List.iter
@@ -396,50 +400,47 @@ let mk_emitter ~(config : Config.t) () : (module EMITTER) =
             Printf.eprintf "on tick callback raised: %s\n"
               (Printexc.to_string e))
         !(!on_tick_cbs_);
-      if batch_timeout () then wakeup ()
+
+      let now = Mtime_clock.now () in
+      if
+        (not (Atomic.get continue))
+        || Batch.is_ready ~now batch_metrics
+        || Batch.is_ready ~now batch_traces
+        || Batch.is_ready ~now batch_logs
+      then
+        wakeup ()
     in
 
     if config.ticker_thread then (
       (* thread that calls [tick()] regularly, to help enforce timeouts *)
       let tick_thread () =
-        while true do
+        while Atomic.get continue do
           Thread.delay 0.5;
           tick ()
-        done
+        done;
+        wakeup ()
       in
 
       start_bg_thread tick_thread
     );
 
     let module M = struct
-      let push_trace e =
-        E_trace.push e;
-        if batch_timeout () then wakeup ()
+      let push_trace e = if Batch.push batch_traces e then wakeup ()
 
-      let push_metrics e =
-        E_metrics.push e;
-        if batch_timeout () then wakeup ()
+      let push_metrics e = if Batch.push batch_metrics e then wakeup ()
 
-      let push_logs e =
-        E_logs.push e;
-        if batch_timeout () then wakeup ()
+      let push_logs e = if Batch.push batch_logs e then wakeup ()
 
       let set_on_tick_callbacks = set_on_tick_callbacks
 
       let tick = tick
 
       let cleanup () =
-        continue := false;
+        Atomic.set continue false;
         with_mutex_ m (fun () -> Condition.broadcast cond)
     end in
     (module M)
   ) else (
-    on_metrics_full (fun () ->
-        if Atomic.get needs_gc_metrics then sample_gc_metrics ();
-        ignore (emit_metrics () : bool));
-    on_trace_full (fun () -> ignore (emit_traces () : bool));
-    on_logs_full (fun () -> ignore (emit_logs () : bool));
-
     let cleanup () =
       emit_all_force ();
       C.cleanup ()
@@ -447,25 +448,33 @@ let mk_emitter ~(config : Config.t) () : (module EMITTER) =
 
     let module M = struct
       let push_trace e =
-        let@ () = guard in
-        E_trace.push e;
-        if batch_timeout () then emit_all_force ()
+        let@ () = guard_exn_ in
+        Batch.push' batch_traces e;
+        let now = Mtime_clock.now () in
+        ignore (emit_traces_maybe ~now () : bool)
 
       let push_metrics e =
-        let@ () = guard in
-        E_metrics.push e;
-        if batch_timeout () then emit_all_force ()
+        let@ () = guard_exn_ in
+        if Atomic.get needs_gc_metrics then sample_gc_metrics ();
+        Batch.push' batch_metrics e;
+        let now = Mtime_clock.now () in
+        ignore (emit_metrics_maybe ~now () : bool)
 
       let push_logs e =
-        let@ () = guard in
-        E_logs.push e;
-        if batch_timeout () then emit_all_force ()
+        let@ () = guard_exn_ in
+        Batch.push' batch_logs e;
+        let now = Mtime_clock.now () in
+        ignore (emit_logs_maybe ~now () : bool)
 
       let set_on_tick_callbacks = set_on_tick_callbacks
 
       let tick () =
         if Atomic.get needs_gc_metrics then sample_gc_metrics ();
-        if batch_timeout () then emit_all_force ()
+        let now = Mtime_clock.now () in
+        ignore (emit_traces_maybe ~now () : bool);
+        ignore (emit_metrics_maybe ~now () : bool);
+        ignore (emit_logs_maybe ~now () : bool);
+        ()
 
       let cleanup = cleanup
     end in
@@ -516,13 +525,13 @@ end)
       [
         make_resource_metrics
           [
-            sum ~name:"otel-export.dropped" ~is_monotonic:true
+            sum ~name:"otel.export.dropped" ~is_monotonic:true
               [
                 int
                   ~start_time_unix_nano:(Mtime.to_uint64_ns last_emit)
                   ~now:(Mtime.to_uint64_ns now) (Atomic.get n_dropped);
               ];
-            sum ~name:"otel-export.errors" ~is_monotonic:true
+            sum ~name:"otel.export.errors" ~is_monotonic:true
               [
                 int
                   ~start_time_unix_nano:(Mtime.to_uint64_ns last_emit)
@@ -537,12 +546,13 @@ end)
     {
       send =
         (fun m ~ret ->
-          let@ () = Lock.with_lock in
           if !debug_ then
             Format.eprintf "send metrics %a@."
               (Format.pp_print_list Metrics.pp_resource_metrics)
               m;
 
+          let@ () = Lock.with_lock in
+
           let m = List.rev_append (additional_metrics ()) m in
           push_metrics m;
           ret ());
@@ -552,11 +562,12 @@ end)
     {
       send =
         (fun m ~ret ->
-          let@ () = Lock.with_lock in
           if !debug_ then
             Format.eprintf "send logs %a@."
               (Format.pp_print_list Logs.pp_resource_logs)
               m;
+
+          let@ () = Lock.with_lock in
           push_logs m;
           ret ());
     }