diff --git a/libbeat/publisher/pipeline/consumer.go b/libbeat/publisher/pipeline/consumer.go
index 20e2bf7ebc9..d8f4288b011 100644
--- a/libbeat/publisher/pipeline/consumer.go
+++ b/libbeat/publisher/pipeline/consumer.go
@@ -67,13 +67,14 @@ func newEventConsumer(
 	queue queue.Queue,
 	ctx *batchContext,
 ) *eventConsumer {
+	consumer := queue.Consumer()
 	c := &eventConsumer{
 		logger: log,
 		sig:    make(chan consumerSignal, 3),
 		out:    nil,
 
 		queue:    queue,
-		consumer: queue.Consumer(),
+		consumer: consumer,
 		ctx:      ctx,
 	}
 
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ func newEventConsumer(
 	c.wg.Add(1)
 	go func() {
 		defer c.wg.Done()
-		c.loop(c.consumer)
+		c.loop(consumer)
 	}()
 	return c
 }
diff --git a/libbeat/publisher/pipeline/output_test.go b/libbeat/publisher/pipeline/output_test.go
index f150a909320..da1bac4f5d0 100644
--- a/libbeat/publisher/pipeline/output_test.go
+++ b/libbeat/publisher/pipeline/output_test.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func TestMakeClientWorker(t *testing.T) {
 
 			err := quick.Check(func(i uint) bool {
 				numBatches := 300 + (i % 100) // between 300 and 399
-				numEvents := atomic.MakeUint(0)
+				var numEvents uint
 
 				logger := makeBufLogger(t)
 
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ func TestMakeClientWorker(t *testing.T) {
 
 				for i := uint(0); i < numBatches; i++ {
 					batch := randomBatch(50, 150).withRetryer(retryer)
-					numEvents.Add(uint(len(batch.Events())))
+					numEvents += uint(len(batch.Events()))
 					wqu <- batch
 				}
 
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ func TestMakeClientWorker(t *testing.T) {
 
 				// Make sure that all events have eventually been published
 				success := waitUntilTrue(timeout, func() bool {
-					return numEvents == published
+					return numEvents == published.Load()
 				})
 				if !success {
 					logger.Flush()
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ func TestMakeClientTracer(t *testing.T) {
 	testutil.SeedPRNG(t)
 
 	numBatches := 10
-	numEvents := atomic.MakeUint(0)
+	var numEvents uint
 
 	logger := makeBufLogger(t)
 
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ func TestMakeClientTracer(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for i := 0; i < numBatches; i++ {
 		batch := randomBatch(10, 15).withRetryer(retryer)
-		numEvents.Add(uint(len(batch.Events())))
+		numEvents += uint(len(batch.Events()))
 		wqu <- batch
 	}
 
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ func TestMakeClientTracer(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Make sure that all events have eventually been published
 	matches := waitUntilTrue(timeout, func() bool {
-		return numEvents == published
+		return numEvents == published.Load()
 	})
 	if !matches {
 		t.Errorf("expected %d events, got %d", numEvents, published)