diff --git a/CHANGELOG.asciidoc b/CHANGELOG.asciidoc
index ca3f548d578..b7e80480397 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.asciidoc
+++ b/CHANGELOG.asciidoc
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 // Template, add newest changes here
 
 === Beats version HEAD
-https://github.com/elastic/beats/compare/v1.2.3...1.2[Check the HEAD diff]
+https://github.com/elastic/beats/compare/v1.2.3...1.3[Check the HEAD diff]
 
 ==== Breaking changes
 
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ https://github.com/elastic/beats/compare/v1.2.3...1.2[Check the HEAD diff]
 ==== Bugfixes
 
 *Affecting all Beats*
+- Fix output modes backoff counter reset. {issue}1803[1803] {pull}1814[1814] {pull}1818[1818]
 
 *Packetbeat*
 
diff --git a/libbeat/outputs/mode/balance.go b/libbeat/outputs/mode/balance.go
index 8b8b5a2106b..6404dc421e0 100644
--- a/libbeat/outputs/mode/balance.go
+++ b/libbeat/outputs/mode/balance.go
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ type LoadBalancerMode struct {
 	// block until event has been successfully published.
 	maxAttempts int
 
+	backoffCount uint // number of consecutive failed retry attempts.
+
 	// waitGroup + signaling channel for handling shutdown
 	wg   sync.WaitGroup
 	done chan struct{}
@@ -191,7 +193,6 @@ func (m *LoadBalancerMode) onMessage(client ProtocolClient, msg eventsMessage) {
 	} else {
 		events := msg.events
 		total := len(events)
-		var backoffCount uint
 
 		for len(events) > 0 {
 			var err error
@@ -222,11 +223,11 @@ func (m *LoadBalancerMode) onMessage(client ProtocolClient, msg eventsMessage) {
 				}
 
 				// wait before retry
-				backoff := time.Duration(int64(m.waitRetry) * (1 << backoffCount))
+				backoff := time.Duration(int64(m.waitRetry) * (1 << m.backoffCount))
 				if backoff > m.maxWaitRetry {
 					backoff = m.maxWaitRetry
 				} else {
-					backoffCount++
+					m.backoffCount++
 				}
 				select {
 				case <-m.done: // shutdown
@@ -240,6 +241,8 @@ func (m *LoadBalancerMode) onMessage(client ProtocolClient, msg eventsMessage) {
 			}
 		}
 	}
+
+	m.backoffCount = 0
 	outputs.SignalCompleted(msg.signaler)
 }
 
diff --git a/libbeat/outputs/mode/single.go b/libbeat/outputs/mode/single.go
index a0cd1f3fde6..f486365299e 100644
--- a/libbeat/outputs/mode/single.go
+++ b/libbeat/outputs/mode/single.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ type SingleConnectionMode struct {
 	timeout      time.Duration // connection timeout
 	waitRetry    time.Duration // wait time until reconnect
 	maxWaitRetry time.Duration // Maximum send/retry timeout in backoff case.
+	backoffCount uint          // number of consecutive failed retry attempts.
 
 	// maximum number of configured send attempts. If set to 0, publisher will
 	// block until event has been successfully published.
@@ -113,7 +114,6 @@ func (s *SingleConnectionMode) publish(
 	send func() (ok bool, resetFail bool),
 ) error {
 	fails := 0
-	var backoffCount uint
 	var err error
 
 	guaranteed := opts.Guaranteed || s.maxAttempts == 0
@@ -132,8 +132,8 @@ func (s *SingleConnectionMode) publish(
 			goto sendFail
 		}
 
-		backoffCount = 0
 		debug("send completed")
+		s.backoffCount = 0
 		outputs.SignalCompleted(signaler)
 		return nil
 
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ func (s *SingleConnectionMode) publish(
 		if resetFail {
 			debug("reset fails")
 			fails = 0
-			backoffCount = 0
+			s.backoffCount = 0
 		}
 
 		if !guaranteed && (s.maxAttempts > 0 && fails == s.maxAttempts) {
@@ -152,11 +152,11 @@ func (s *SingleConnectionMode) publish(
 		}
 
 		logp.Info("send fail")
-		backoff := time.Duration(int64(s.waitRetry) * (1 << backoffCount))
+		backoff := time.Duration(int64(s.waitRetry) * (1 << s.backoffCount))
 		if backoff > s.maxWaitRetry {
 			backoff = s.maxWaitRetry
 		} else {
-			backoffCount++
+			s.backoffCount++
 		}
 		logp.Info("backoff retry: %v", backoff)
 		time.Sleep(backoff)