diff --git a/cdc/processor/pipeline/table.go b/cdc/processor/pipeline/table.go
index b0c53180aed..beb8e812e4f 100644
--- a/cdc/processor/pipeline/table.go
+++ b/cdc/processor/pipeline/table.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ type TablePipeline interface {
 	// UpdateBarrierTs updates the barrier ts in this table pipeline
 	UpdateBarrierTs(ts model.Ts)
 	// AsyncStop tells the pipeline to stop, and returns true is the pipeline is already stopped.
-	AsyncStop(targetTs model.Ts)
+	AsyncStop(targetTs model.Ts) bool
 	// Workload returns the workload of this table
 	Workload() model.WorkloadInfo
 	// Status returns the status of this table pipeline
@@ -93,21 +93,28 @@ func (t *tablePipelineImpl) CheckpointTs() model.Ts {
 // UpdateBarrierTs updates the barrier ts in this table pipeline
 func (t *tablePipelineImpl) UpdateBarrierTs(ts model.Ts) {
 	err := t.p.SendToFirstNode(pipeline.BarrierMessage(ts))
-	if err != nil && !cerror.ErrSendToClosedPipeline.Equal(err) {
+	if err != nil && !cerror.ErrSendToClosedPipeline.Equal(err) && !cerror.ErrPipelineTryAgain.Equal(err) {
 		log.Panic("unexpect error from send to first node", zap.Error(err))
 	}
 }
 
 // AsyncStop tells the pipeline to stop, and returns true is the pipeline is already stopped.
-func (t *tablePipelineImpl) AsyncStop(targetTs model.Ts) {
+func (t *tablePipelineImpl) AsyncStop(targetTs model.Ts) bool {
 	err := t.p.SendToFirstNode(pipeline.CommandMessage(&pipeline.Command{
 		Tp:        pipeline.CommandTypeStopAtTs,
 		StoppedTs: targetTs,
 	}))
 	log.Info("send async stop signal to table", zap.Int64("tableID", t.tableID), zap.Uint64("targetTs", targetTs))
-	if err != nil && !cerror.ErrSendToClosedPipeline.Equal(err) {
+	if err != nil {
+		if cerror.ErrPipelineTryAgain.Equal(err) {
+			return false
+		}
+		if cerror.ErrSendToClosedPipeline.Equal(err) {
+			return true
+		}
 		log.Panic("unexpect error from send to first node", zap.Error(err))
 	}
+	return true
 }
 
 var workload = model.WorkloadInfo{Workload: 1}
diff --git a/cdc/processor/processor.go b/cdc/processor/processor.go
index 09342e402a2..9342c51ad86 100644
--- a/cdc/processor/processor.go
+++ b/cdc/processor/processor.go
@@ -365,7 +365,13 @@ func (p *processor) handleTableOperation(ctx cdcContext.Context) error {
 				if opt.BoundaryTs < globalCheckpointTs {
 					log.Warn("the BoundaryTs of remove table operation is smaller than global checkpoint ts", zap.Uint64("globalCheckpointTs", globalCheckpointTs), zap.Any("operation", opt))
 				}
-				table.AsyncStop(opt.BoundaryTs)
+				if !table.AsyncStop(opt.BoundaryTs) {
+					// We use a Debug log because it is conceivable for the pipeline to block for a legitimate reason,
+					// and we do not want to alarm the user.
+					log.Debug("AsyncStop has failed, possible due to a full pipeline",
+						zap.Uint64("checkpointTs", table.CheckpointTs()), zap.Int64("tableID", tableID))
+					continue
+				}
 				patchOperation(tableID, func(operation *model.TableOperation) error {
 					operation.Status = model.OperProcessed
 					return nil
diff --git a/cdc/processor/processor_test.go b/cdc/processor/processor_test.go
index 33d9003a598..d1fa9558835 100644
--- a/cdc/processor/processor_test.go
+++ b/cdc/processor/processor_test.go
@@ -85,8 +85,9 @@ func (m *mockTablePipeline) UpdateBarrierTs(ts model.Ts) {
 	m.barrierTs = ts
 }
 
-func (m *mockTablePipeline) AsyncStop(targetTs model.Ts) {
+func (m *mockTablePipeline) AsyncStop(targetTs model.Ts) bool {
 	m.stopTs = targetTs
+	return true
 }
 
 func (m *mockTablePipeline) Workload() model.WorkloadInfo {
diff --git a/errors.toml b/errors.toml
index 57afbe46746..32046f1d124 100755
--- a/errors.toml
+++ b/errors.toml
@@ -571,6 +571,11 @@ error = '''
 pending region cancelled due to stream disconnecting
 '''
 
+["CDC:ErrPipelineTryAgain"]
+error = '''
+pipeline is full, please try again. Internal use only, report a bug if seen externally
+'''
+
 ["CDC:ErrPrepareAvroFailed"]
 error = '''
 prepare avro failed
diff --git a/pkg/errors/errors.go b/pkg/errors/errors.go
index b5bbf71115a..803ffce6b5d 100644
--- a/pkg/errors/errors.go
+++ b/pkg/errors/errors.go
@@ -200,6 +200,7 @@ var (
 
 	// pipeline errors
 	ErrSendToClosedPipeline = errors.Normalize("pipeline is closed, cannot send message", errors.RFCCodeText("CDC:ErrSendToClosedPipeline"))
+	ErrPipelineTryAgain     = errors.Normalize("pipeline is full, please try again. Internal use only, report a bug if seen externally", errors.RFCCodeText("CDC:ErrPipelineTryAgain"))
 
 	// workerpool errors
 	ErrWorkerPoolHandleCancelled = errors.Normalize("workerpool handle is cancelled", errors.RFCCodeText("CDC:ErrWorkerPoolHandleCancelled"))
diff --git a/pkg/pipeline/pipeline.go b/pkg/pipeline/pipeline.go
index 842af22f7b0..9c519cbfe4d 100644
--- a/pkg/pipeline/pipeline.go
+++ b/pkg/pipeline/pipeline.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/pingcap/failpoint"
 	"github.com/pingcap/log"
 	"github.com/pingcap/ticdc/pkg/context"
 	cerror "github.com/pingcap/ticdc/pkg/errors"
@@ -59,7 +60,11 @@ func NewPipeline(ctx context.Context, tickDuration time.Duration) *Pipeline {
 		for {
 			select {
 			case <-tickCh:
-				p.SendToFirstNode(TickMessage()) //nolint:errcheck
+				err := p.SendToFirstNode(TickMessage()) //nolint:errcheck
+				if err != nil {
+					// Errors here are innocent. It's okay for tick messages to get lost.
+					log.Debug("Error encountered when calling SendToFirstNode", zap.Error(err))
+				}
 			case <-ctx.Done():
 				p.close()
 				return
@@ -103,8 +108,16 @@ func (p *Pipeline) SendToFirstNode(msg *Message) error {
 	if p.isClosed {
 		return cerror.ErrSendToClosedPipeline.GenWithStackByArgs()
 	}
-	// The header channel should never be blocked
-	p.header <- msg
+
+	failpoint.Inject("PipelineSendToFirstNodeTryAgain", func() {
+		failpoint.Return(cerror.ErrPipelineTryAgain.GenWithStackByArgs())
+	})
+
+	select {
+	case p.header <- msg:
+	default:
+		return cerror.ErrPipelineTryAgain.GenWithStackByArgs()
+	}
 	return nil
 }