diff --git a/outlet/kafka/scaler.go b/outlet/kafka/scaler.go
index 3811dc64..86c1e387 100644
--- a/outlet/kafka/scaler.go
+++ b/outlet/kafka/scaler.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ package kafka
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"sync"
 	"time"
 )
 
@@ -65,6 +66,34 @@ func (s *scalerState) nextWorkerCount(request ScaleRequest, currentWorkers, minW
 	return currentWorkers
 }
 
+// scaleWhileDraining runs a scaling function while draining incoming signals
+// from the channel. It spawns two goroutines: one to discard signals and one to
+// run the scaling function.
+func scaleWhileDraining(ctx context.Context, ch <-chan ScaleRequest, scaleFn func()) {
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	wg.Add(2)
+	go func() {
+		defer wg.Done()
+		for {
+			select {
+			case <-ctx.Done():
+				return
+			case <-done:
+				return
+			case <-ch:
+				// Discard signal
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+	go func() {
+		defer wg.Done()
+		scaleFn()
+		close(done)
+	}()
+	wg.Wait()
+}
+
 // runScaler starts the automatic scaling loop
 func runScaler(ctx context.Context, config scalerConfiguration) chan<- ScaleRequest {
 	ch := make(chan ScaleRequest, config.maxWorkers)
@@ -87,9 +116,11 @@ func runScaler(ctx context.Context, config scalerConfiguration) chan<- ScaleRequ
 					current := config.getWorkerCount()
 					target := state.nextWorkerCount(ScaleIncrease, current, config.minWorkers, config.maxWorkers)
 					if target > current {
-						config.increaseWorkers(current, target)
+						scaleWhileDraining(ctx, ch, func() {
+							config.increaseWorkers(current, target)
+						})
 					}
-					last = now
+					last = time.Now()
 					decreaseCount = 0
 					continue
 				}
@@ -110,9 +141,11 @@ func runScaler(ctx context.Context, config scalerConfiguration) chan<- ScaleRequ
 						current := config.getWorkerCount()
 						target := state.nextWorkerCount(ScaleDecrease, current, config.minWorkers, config.maxWorkers)
 						if target < current {
-							config.decreaseWorkers(current, target)
+							scaleWhileDraining(ctx, ch, func() {
+								config.decreaseWorkers(current, target)
+							})
 						}
-						last = now
+						last = time.Now()
 						decreaseCount = 0
 					}
 				}
diff --git a/outlet/kafka/scaler_test.go b/outlet/kafka/scaler_test.go
index c6dfcd25..8419ab0e 100644
--- a/outlet/kafka/scaler_test.go
+++ b/outlet/kafka/scaler_test.go
@@ -274,6 +274,103 @@ func TestScalerRateLimiter(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
+func TestScalerDoesNotBlock(t *testing.T) {
+	synctest.Test(t, func(t *testing.T) {
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(t.Context())
+		defer cancel()
+
+		var mu sync.Mutex
+		currentWorkers := 1
+		scalingInProgress := false
+
+		config := scalerConfiguration{
+			minWorkers:        1,
+			maxWorkers:        16,
+			increaseRateLimit: time.Second,
+			decreaseRateLimit: time.Second,
+			getWorkerCount: func() int {
+				mu.Lock()
+				defer mu.Unlock()
+				return currentWorkers
+			},
+			increaseWorkers: func(from, to int) {
+				t.Logf("increaseWorkers(from: %d, to: %d) - start", from, to)
+				mu.Lock()
+				scalingInProgress = true
+				mu.Unlock()
+
+				// Simulate a slow scaling operation
+				time.Sleep(30 * time.Second)
+
+				mu.Lock()
+				currentWorkers = to
+				scalingInProgress = false
+				mu.Unlock()
+				t.Logf("increaseWorkers(from: %d, to: %d) - done", from, to)
+			},
+			decreaseWorkers: func(from, to int) {
+				t.Logf("decreaseWorkers(from: %d, to: %d) - start", from, to)
+				mu.Lock()
+				scalingInProgress = true
+				mu.Unlock()
+
+				// Simulate a slow scaling operation
+				time.Sleep(30 * time.Second)
+
+				mu.Lock()
+				currentWorkers = to
+				scalingInProgress = false
+				mu.Unlock()
+				t.Logf("decreaseWorkers(from: %d, to: %d) - done", from, to)
+			},
+		}
+
+		ch := runScaler(ctx, config)
+
+		// Send the first scale request that will trigger a slow scaling operation
+		ch <- ScaleIncrease
+		time.Sleep(time.Second)
+
+		// Verify scaling is in progress
+		mu.Lock()
+		if !scalingInProgress {
+			t.Fatal("runScaler(): scaling should be in progress")
+		}
+		mu.Unlock()
+
+		// Now send many more signals while scaling is in progress.
+		// These should not block - they should be discarded.
+		sendDone := make(chan struct{})
+		go func() {
+			for range 100 {
+				ch <- ScaleIncrease
+			}
+			close(sendDone)
+		}()
+
+		// Wait for all sends to complete with a timeout
+		select {
+		case <-sendDone:
+			t.Log("runScaler(): all signals sent successfully without blocking")
+		case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+			t.Fatal("runScaler(): blocked")
+		}
+
+		// Wait for the scaling operation to complete
+		time.Sleep(30 * time.Second)
+
+		// Verify scaling completed
+		mu.Lock()
+		defer mu.Unlock()
+		if scalingInProgress {
+			t.Fatal("runScaler(): still scaling")
+		}
+		if currentWorkers != 9 {
+			t.Fatalf("runScaler(): expected 9 workers, got %d", currentWorkers)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
 func TestScalerState(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name       string