diff --git a/libbeat/publisher/pipeline/controller_test.go b/libbeat/publisher/pipeline/controller_test.go
index 22f5812d4be4..624fd3d515f4 100644
--- a/libbeat/publisher/pipeline/controller_test.go
+++ b/libbeat/publisher/pipeline/controller_test.go
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ import (
 
 func TestOutputReload(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := map[string]func(mockPublishFn) outputs.Client{
-		"client": newMockClient,
-		//"network_client": newMockNetworkClient,
+		"client":         newMockClient,
+		"network_client": newMockNetworkClient,
 	}
 
 	for name, ctor := range tests {
diff --git a/libbeat/publisher/pipeline/output.go b/libbeat/publisher/pipeline/output.go
index 2e45c9c37f5f..d170008d5a7a 100644
--- a/libbeat/publisher/pipeline/output.go
+++ b/libbeat/publisher/pipeline/output.go
@@ -108,10 +108,10 @@ func (w *clientWorker) run() {
 				continue
 			}
 
-			w.lf("received batch of %v events", len(batch.events))
+			w.lf("clientWorker: received batch of %v events", len(batch.events))
 			if w.closed.Load() {
 				if batch != nil {
-					w.lf("canceling batch of %v events", len(batch.events))
+					w.lf("clientWorker: canceling batch of %v events", len(batch.events))
 					batch.Cancelled()
 				}
 				return
@@ -136,12 +136,19 @@ func (w *netClientWorker) Close() error {
 }
 
 func (w *netClientWorker) run() {
+	defer func() {
+		w.lf("netClientWorker closed")
+	}()
 	for !w.closed.Load() {
 		reconnectAttempts := 0
 
 		// start initial connect loop from first batch, but return
 		// batch to pipeline for other outputs to catch up while we're trying to connect
 		for batch := range w.qu {
+			if batch == nil {
+				continue
+			}
+
 			batch.Cancelled()
 
 			if w.closed.Load() {
@@ -169,19 +176,24 @@ func (w *netClientWorker) run() {
 
 		// send loop
 		for batch := range w.qu {
+			if batch == nil {
+				continue
+			}
+
+			w.lf("netClientWorker: received batch of %v events", len(batch.events))
 			if w.closed.Load() {
 				if batch != nil {
+					w.lf("netClientWorker: canceling batch of %v events", len(batch.events))
 					batch.Cancelled()
 				}
 				return
 			}
 
 			w.inflight = make(chan struct{})
-			err := w.client.Publish(batch)
-			if err != nil {
-				close(w.inflight)
-				w.logger.Errorf("Failed to publish events: %v", err)
+			if err := w.client.Publish(batch); err != nil {
 				// on error return to connect loop
+				w.logger.Errorf("Failed to publish events: %v", err)
+				close(w.inflight)
 				break
 			}
 			close(w.inflight)