diff --git a/src/Control/Monad/Trace.hs b/src/Control/Monad/Trace.hs
index 82d01e2..23cf6f3 100644
--- a/src/Control/Monad/Trace.hs
+++ b/src/Control/Monad/Trace.hs
@@ -24,6 +24,14 @@ module Control.Monad.Trace (
 
   -- ** Pending spans
   pendingSpanCount,
+
+  -- ** SBQueue
+  SBQueue,
+  defaultQueueCapacity,
+  newSBQueueIO,
+  isEmptySBQueue,
+  readSBQueue,
+  writeSBQueue
 ) where
 
 import Prelude hiding (span)
@@ -32,8 +40,10 @@ import Control.Monad.Trace.Class
 import Control.Monad.Trace.Internal
 
 import Control.Applicative ((<|>))
+import Control.Monad.STM (retry)
 import Control.Concurrent.STM.Lifted
 import Control.Exception.Lifted
+import Control.Monad (when)
 import Control.Monad.IO.Class (MonadIO, liftIO)
 import Control.Monad.Reader (ReaderT(ReaderT), ask, asks, local, runReaderT)
 import Control.Monad.Reader.Class (MonadReader)
@@ -71,6 +81,48 @@ data Sample = Sample
   -- ^ The span's duration.
   }
 
+-- SBQueue implementation and helpers are all taken shamelessly from logbase
+
+-- | Default capacity of log queues (TBQueue for regular logger, 'SBQueue' for
+-- bulk loggers). This corresponds to approximately 200 MiB memory residency
+-- when the queue is full.
+defaultQueueCapacity :: Int
+defaultQueueCapacity = 1000000
+
+-- | A simple STM based bounded queue.
+data SBQueue a = SBQueue !(TVar [a]) !(TVar Int) !Int
+
+-- | Create an instance of 'SBQueue' with a given capacity.
+newSBQueueIO :: Int -> IO (SBQueue a)
+newSBQueueIO capacity = SBQueue <$> newTVarIO [] <*> newTVarIO 0 <*> pure capacity
+
+-- | Check if an 'SBQueue' is empty.
+isEmptySBQueue :: SBQueue a -> STM Bool
+isEmptySBQueue (SBQueue queue count _capacity) = do
+  isEmpty  <- null <$> readTVar queue
+  numElems <- readTVar count
+  assert (if isEmpty then numElems == 0 else numElems > 0) $
+    return isEmpty
+
+-- | Read all the values stored in an 'SBQueue'.
+readSBQueue :: SBQueue a -> STM [a]
+readSBQueue (SBQueue queue count _capacity) = do
+  elems <- readTVar queue
+  when (null elems) retry
+  writeTVar queue []
+  writeTVar count 0
+  return $ reverse elems
+
+-- | Write a value to an 'SBQueue'.
+writeSBQueue :: SBQueue a -> a -> STM ()
+writeSBQueue (SBQueue queue count capacity) a = do
+  numElems <- readTVar count
+  when (numElems < capacity) $ do
+    modifyTVar queue (a :)
+    -- Strict modification of the queue size to avoid space leak
+    modifyTVar' count (+1)
+
+
 -- | A tracer is a producer of spans.
 --
 -- More specifically, a tracer:
@@ -82,13 +134,13 @@ data Sample = Sample
 -- These samples can then be consumed independently, decoupling downstream span processing from
 -- their production.
 data Tracer = Tracer
-  { tracerChannel :: TChan Sample
+  { tracerQueue :: SBQueue Sample
   , tracerPendingCount :: TVar Int
   }
 
 -- | Creates a new 'Tracer'.
 newTracer :: MonadIO m => m Tracer
-newTracer = liftIO $ Tracer <$> newTChanIO <*> newTVarIO 0
+newTracer = liftIO $ Tracer <$> newSBQueueIO defaultQueueCapacity <*> newTVarIO 0
 
 -- | Returns the number of spans currently in flight (started but not yet completed).
 pendingSpanCount :: Tracer -> TVar Int
@@ -96,8 +148,8 @@ pendingSpanCount = tracerPendingCount
 
 -- | Returns all newly completed spans' samples. The samples become available in the same order they
 -- are completed.
-spanSamples :: Tracer -> TChan Sample
-spanSamples = tracerChannel
+spanSamples :: Tracer -> SBQueue Sample
+spanSamples = tracerQueue
 
 data Scope = Scope
   { scopeTracer :: !Tracer
@@ -163,7 +215,7 @@ instance (MonadBaseControl IO m, MonadIO m) => MonadTrace (TraceT m) where
                   modifyTVar' (tracerPendingCount tracer) (\n -> n - 1)
                   tags <- readTVar tagsTV
                   logs <- sortOn (\(t, k, _) -> (t, k)) <$> readTVar logsTV
-                  writeTChan (tracerChannel tracer) (Sample spn tags logs start (end - start))
+                  writeSBQueue (tracerQueue tracer) (Sample spn tags logs start (end - start))
           run `finally` cleanup
         else local (const $ Just $ Scope tracer (Just spn) Nothing Nothing) reader
 
diff --git a/src/Monitor/Tracing/Local.hs b/src/Monitor/Tracing/Local.hs
index 51a8f91..39dd764 100644
--- a/src/Monitor/Tracing/Local.hs
+++ b/src/Monitor/Tracing/Local.hs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ module Monitor.Tracing.Local (
 
 import Control.Monad.Trace
 
-import Control.Concurrent.STM.Lifted (atomically, readTVar, readTChan, tryReadTChan)
+import Control.Concurrent.STM.Lifted (atomically, readTVar)
 import Control.Monad.Fix (fix)
 import Control.Monad.IO.Class (MonadIO, liftIO)
 import Control.Monad.Trans.Control (MonadBaseControl)
@@ -34,10 +34,13 @@ collectSpanSamples actn = do
     samplesTC = spanSamples tracer
     pendingTV = pendingSpanCount tracer
   liftIO $ fix $ \loop -> do
-    (mbSample, pending) <- atomically $ (,) <$> tryReadTChan samplesTC <*> readTVar pendingTV
+    (mbSample, pending) <- atomically $ (,) <$> readSBQueue samplesTC <*> readTVar pendingTV
     case mbSample of
-      Just spl -> addSample spl >> loop
-      Nothing | pending > 0 -> liftIO (atomically $ readTChan samplesTC) >>= addSample >> loop
+      (x:xs) -> mapM_ addSample (x:xs) >> loop
+      [] | pending > 0 -> do
+        toAdd <- liftIO (atomically $ readSBQueue samplesTC)
+        mapM_ addSample toAdd
+        loop
       _ -> pure ()
   spls <- reverse <$> liftIO (readIORef ref)
   pure (rv, spls)
diff --git a/src/Monitor/Tracing/Zipkin.hs b/src/Monitor/Tracing/Zipkin.hs
index eabffda..17dee8a 100644
--- a/src/Monitor/Tracing/Zipkin.hs
+++ b/src/Monitor/Tracing/Zipkin.hs
@@ -43,12 +43,12 @@ module Monitor.Tracing.Zipkin (
 import Control.Monad.Trace
 import Control.Monad.Trace.Class
 
-import Control.Concurrent (forkIO, threadDelay)
-import Control.Concurrent.STM.Lifted (atomically, tryReadTChan)
-import Control.Exception (catch)
-import Control.Exception.Lifted (finally)
-import Control.Monad (forever, guard, void, when)
-import Control.Monad.Fix (fix)
+import Control.Concurrent (threadDelay)
+import Control.Concurrent.Lifted (fork)
+import Control.Concurrent.STM.Lifted (atomically)
+import Control.Exception (SomeException)
+import Control.Exception.Lifted (finally, try)
+import Control.Monad (forever, guard, unless, void)
 import Control.Monad.IO.Class (MonadIO, liftIO)
 import Control.Monad.Trans.Control (MonadBaseControl)
 import qualified Data.Aeson as JSON
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@ import Data.CaseInsensitive (CI)
 import Data.Time.Clock (NominalDiffTime)
 import Data.Foldable (toList)
 import Data.Int (Int64)
-import Data.IORef (modifyIORef, newIORef, readIORef)
 import Data.Map.Strict (Map)
 import qualified Data.Map.Strict as Map
 import Data.Maybe (catMaybes, fromMaybe, listToMaybe, maybeToList)
@@ -73,9 +72,10 @@ import Data.Text (Text)
 import qualified Data.Text as T
 import qualified Data.Text.Encoding as T
 import Data.Time.Clock.POSIX (POSIXTime)
-import Network.HTTP.Client (HttpException, Manager, Request)
+import Network.HTTP.Client (Manager, Request)
 import qualified Network.HTTP.Client as HTTP
 import Network.Socket (HostName, PortNumber)
+import Control.Monad.Base (liftBase)
 
 -- | 'Zipkin' creation settings.
 data Settings = Settings
@@ -87,10 +87,8 @@ data Settings = Settings
   -- ^ Local endpoint included in all published spans.
   , settingsManager :: !(Maybe Manager)
   -- ^ An optional HTTP manager to use for publishing spans on the Zipkin server.
-  , settingsPublishPeriod :: !(Maybe NominalDiffTime)
-  -- ^ If set to a positive value, traces will be flushed in the background every such period.
-  , settingsIgnoreBackgroundExceptions :: Bool
-  -- ^ If set to True, background flushes will ignore any `HttpException`s
+  , settingsPublishPeriod :: !NominalDiffTime
+  -- ^ Publish traces in the background at the given interval
   }
 
 -- | Creates empty 'Settings'. You will typically use this (or the 'IsString' instance) as starting
@@ -98,7 +96,7 @@ data Settings = Settings
 --
 -- > let settings = defaultSettings { settingsPort = Just 2222 }
 defaultSettings :: Settings
-defaultSettings = Settings Nothing Nothing Nothing Nothing Nothing False
+defaultSettings = Settings Nothing Nothing Nothing Nothing 1
 
 -- | Generates settings with the given string as hostname.
 instance IsString Settings where
@@ -116,20 +114,9 @@ data Zipkin = Zipkin
   , zipkinEndpoint :: !(Maybe Endpoint)
   }
 
-flushSpans :: Maybe Endpoint -> Tracer -> Request -> Manager -> IO ()
-flushSpans ept tracer req mgr = do
-  ref <- newIORef []
-  fix $ \loop -> atomically (tryReadTChan $ spanSamples tracer) >>= \case
-    Nothing -> pure ()
-    Just sample -> modifyIORef ref (ZipkinSpan ept sample:) >> loop
-  spns <- readIORef ref
-  when (not $ null spns) $ do
-    let req' = req { HTTP.requestBody = HTTP.RequestBodyLBS $ JSON.encode spns }
-    void $ HTTP.httpLbs req' mgr
-
 -- | Creates a 'Zipkin' publisher for the input 'Settings'.
 new :: MonadIO m => Settings -> m Zipkin
-new (Settings mbHostname mbPort mbEpt mbMgr mbPrd ignore) = liftIO $ do
+new (Settings mbHostname mbPort mbEpt mbMgr publishInterval) = liftIO $ do
   mgr <- maybe (HTTP.newManager HTTP.defaultManagerSettings) pure mbMgr
   tracer <- newTracer
   let
@@ -140,15 +127,11 @@ new (Settings mbHostname mbPort mbEpt mbMgr mbPrd ignore) = liftIO $ do
       , HTTP.port = maybe 9411 fromIntegral mbPort
       , HTTP.requestHeaders = [("content-type", "application/json")]
       }
-  void $ let prd = fromMaybe 0 mbPrd in if prd <= 0
-    then pure Nothing
-    else fmap Just $ forkIO $ forever $ do
-      threadDelay (microSeconds prd)
-      let flush = flushSpans mbEpt tracer req mgr -- Manager is thread-safe.
-      if ignore
-        then catch flush (\(_ :: HttpException) -> pure ())
-        else flush
-  pure $ Zipkin mgr req tracer mbEpt
+    zpk = Zipkin mgr req tracer mbEpt
+  void $ fork $ forever $ do
+    threadDelay $ microSeconds publishInterval
+    publish zpk
+  pure zpk
 
 -- | Runs a 'TraceT' action, sampling spans appropriately. Note that this method does not publish
 -- spans on its own; to do so, either call 'publish' manually or specify a positive
@@ -156,10 +139,26 @@ new (Settings mbHostname mbPort mbEpt mbMgr mbPrd ignore) = liftIO $ do
 run :: TraceT m a -> Zipkin -> m a
 run actn zipkin = runTraceT actn (zipkinTracer zipkin)
 
+-- | Flushes the given spans to the Zipkin server. This function is a no-op when input is empty. If
+-- publication failed, this function will throw a 'PublishFailed' exception.
+publishSpans :: (MonadIO m, MonadBaseControl IO m) => Zipkin -> [ZipkinSpan] -> m ()
+publishSpans zpk spns = unless (null spns) $
+  let req = (zipkinRequest zpk) { HTTP.requestBody = HTTP.RequestBodyLBS $ JSON.encode spns }
+  in void $ liftIO $ HTTP.httpLbs req (zipkinManager zpk)
+
 -- | Flushes all complete spans to the Zipkin server.
 publish :: MonadIO m => Zipkin -> m ()
-publish z =
-  liftIO $ flushSpans (zipkinEndpoint z) (zipkinTracer z) (zipkinRequest z) (zipkinManager z)
+publish z = liftIO $ do
+  let mbEpt = zipkinEndpoint z
+  samples <- atomically $ readSBQueue $ spanSamples $ zipkinTracer z
+  retryOnException $ publishSpans z $ fmap (ZipkinSpan mbEpt) samples 
+
+retryOnException :: MonadBaseControl IO m => m r -> m r
+retryOnException m = try m >>= \case
+      Left (_ :: SomeException) -> do
+        liftBase $ threadDelay $ 10 * 1000000
+        retryOnException m
+      Right result -> return result
 
 -- | Convenience method to start a 'Zipkin', run an action, and publish all spans before returning.
 with :: (MonadBaseControl IO m, MonadIO m) => Settings -> (Zipkin -> m a) -> m a
diff --git a/tracing.cabal b/tracing.cabal
index eead395..ccb76f6 100644
--- a/tracing.cabal
+++ b/tracing.cabal
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ library
     , network >= 2.8
     , random >= 1.1
     , stm-lifted >= 2.5
+    , stm >= 2.5
     , text >= 1.2
     , time >= 1.8 && < 1.10
     , transformers >= 0.5