diff --git a/packages/cli/src/scaling/__tests__/publisher.service.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/scaling/__tests__/publisher.service.test.ts
index f77b6b5d5afbe..f69ad08cb5995 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/scaling/__tests__/publisher.service.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/scaling/__tests__/publisher.service.test.ts
@@ -44,6 +44,16 @@ describe('Publisher', () => {
 	});
 
 	describe('publishCommand', () => {
+		it('should do nothing if not in scaling mode', async () => {
+			config.set('executions.mode', 'regular');
+			const publisher = new Publisher(logger, redisClientService, instanceSettings);
+			const msg = mock<PubSub.Command>({ command: 'reload-license' });
+
+			await publisher.publishCommand(msg);
+
+			expect(client.publish).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+		});
+
 		it('should publish command into `n8n.commands` pubsub channel', async () => {
 			const publisher = new Publisher(logger, redisClientService, instanceSettings);
 			const msg = mock<PubSub.Command>({ command: 'reload-license' });
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/scaling/pubsub/publisher.service.ts b/packages/cli/src/scaling/pubsub/publisher.service.ts
index cc28c2d339d81..248a455e3ef55 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/scaling/pubsub/publisher.service.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/scaling/pubsub/publisher.service.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ export class Publisher {
 		private readonly redisClientService: RedisClientService,
 		private readonly instanceSettings: InstanceSettings,
 	) {
-		// @TODO: Once this class is only ever initialized in scaling mode, throw in the next line instead.
+		// @TODO: Once this class is only ever initialized in scaling mode, assert in the next line.
 		if (config.getEnv('executions.mode') !== 'queue') return;
 
 		this.logger = this.logger.scoped(['scaling', 'pubsub']);
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ export class Publisher {
 
 	/** Publish a command into the `n8n.commands` channel. */
 	async publishCommand(msg: Omit<PubSub.Command, 'senderId'>) {
+		// @TODO: Once this class is only ever used in scaling mode, remove next line.
+		if (config.getEnv('executions.mode') !== 'queue') return;
+
 		await this.client.publish(
 			'n8n.commands',
 			JSON.stringify({