diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 52d0c93..f2566bb 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -17,3 +17,7 @@
 
 # Local copy of LIKWID headers
 /collectors/likwid
+
+# Local development workspace (build against a local cc-lib checkout)
+go.work
+go.work.sum
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3fd06d7..ed38119 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ There is a main configuration file with basic settings that point to the other c
 
 The `interval` defines how often the metrics should be read and send to the sink(s). The `duration` tells the collectors how long one measurement has to take. This is important for some collectors, like the `likwid` collector. For more information, see [here](./docs/configuration.md).
 
+The optional `channel_buffer_size` sets the capacity of the internal channels between the components. If unset, it defaults to `max(200, 24 * number of CPUs)` so that one interval's burst of per-hwthread metrics fits without back-pressuring the collectors on nodes with many cores.
+
 See the component READMEs for their configuration:
 
 * [`collectors`](./collectors/README.md)
diff --git a/cc-metric-collector.go b/cc-metric-collector.go
index 3188f9c..9865881 100644
--- a/cc-metric-collector.go
+++ b/cc-metric-collector.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"flag"
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
+	"runtime"
 	"sync"
 	"syscall"
 	"time"
@@ -29,8 +30,9 @@ import (
 )
 
 type CentralConfigFile struct {
-	Interval string `json:"interval"`
-	Duration string `json:"duration"`
+	Interval          string `json:"interval"`
+	Duration          string `json:"duration"`
+	ChannelBufferSize int    `json:"channel_buffer_size,omitempty"`
 }
 
 type RuntimeConfig struct {
@@ -158,6 +160,14 @@ func mainFunc() int {
 		return 1
 	}
 
+	// Size the channels between the managers so that one interval's burst of
+	// per-hwthread metrics fits without back-pressuring the collectors
+	chanSize := rcfg.ConfigFile.ChannelBufferSize
+	if chanSize <= 0 {
+		chanSize = max(200, 24*runtime.NumCPU())
+	}
+	cclog.ComponentDebug("main", "channel buffer size", chanSize)
+
 	routerConf := ccconf.GetPackageConfig("router")
 	if len(routerConf) == 0 {
 		cclog.Error("Metric router configuration file must be set")
@@ -194,7 +204,7 @@ func mainFunc() int {
 	}
 
 	// Connect metric router to sink manager
-	RouterToSinksChannel := make(chan lp.CCMessage, 200)
+	RouterToSinksChannel := make(chan lp.CCMessage, chanSize)
 	rcfg.SinkManager.AddInput(RouterToSinksChannel)
 	rcfg.MetricRouter.AddOutput(RouterToSinksChannel)
 
@@ -206,7 +216,7 @@ func mainFunc() int {
 	}
 
 	// Connect collector manager to metric router
-	CollectToRouterChannel := make(chan lp.CCMessage, 200)
+	CollectToRouterChannel := make(chan lp.CCMessage, chanSize)
 	rcfg.CollectManager.AddOutput(CollectToRouterChannel)
 	rcfg.MetricRouter.AddCollectorInput(CollectToRouterChannel)
 
@@ -220,7 +230,7 @@ func mainFunc() int {
 		}
 
 		// Connect receive manager to metric router
-		ReceiveToRouterChannel := make(chan lp.CCMessage, 200)
+		ReceiveToRouterChannel := make(chan lp.CCMessage, chanSize)
 		rcfg.ReceiveManager.AddOutput(ReceiveToRouterChannel)
 		rcfg.MetricRouter.AddReceiverInput(ReceiveToRouterChannel)
 		use_recv = true
diff --git a/collectors/collectorManager.go b/collectors/collectorManager.go
index 9cce461..b6e00ce 100644
--- a/collectors/collectorManager.go
+++ b/collectors/collectorManager.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
 	cclog "github.com/ClusterCockpit/cc-lib/v2/ccLogger"
@@ -56,16 +57,17 @@ var AvailableCollectors = map[string]MetricCollector{
 
 // Metric collector manager data structure
 type collectorManager struct {
-	collectors   []MetricCollector          // List of metric collectors to read in parallel
-	serial       []MetricCollector          // List of metric collectors to read serially
-	output       chan lp.CCMessage          // Output channels
-	done         chan bool                  // channel to finish / stop metric collector manager
-	ticker       mct.MultiChanTicker        // periodically ticking once each interval
-	duration     time.Duration              // duration (for metrics that measure over a given duration)
-	wg           *sync.WaitGroup            // wait group for all goroutines in cc-metric-collector
-	config       map[string]json.RawMessage // json encoded config for collector manager
-	collector_wg sync.WaitGroup             // internally used wait group for the parallel reading of collector
-	parallel_run bool                       // Flag whether the collectors are currently read in parallel
+	collectors    []MetricCollector          // List of metric collectors to read in parallel
+	serial        []MetricCollector          // List of metric collectors to read serially
+	output        chan lp.CCMessage          // Output channels
+	done          chan bool                  // channel to finish / stop metric collector manager
+	ticker        mct.MultiChanTicker        // periodically ticking once each interval
+	duration      time.Duration              // duration (for metrics that measure over a given duration)
+	wg            *sync.WaitGroup            // wait group for all goroutines in cc-metric-collector
+	config        map[string]json.RawMessage // json encoded config for collector manager
+	collector_wg  sync.WaitGroup             // internally used wait group for the parallel reading of collector
+	round_wg      sync.WaitGroup             // wait group for the currently running collection round
+	round_running atomic.Bool                // Flag whether a collection round is currently running
 }
 
 // Metric collector manager access functions
@@ -121,26 +123,54 @@ func (cm *collectorManager) Init(ticker mct.MultiChanTicker, duration time.Durat
 	return nil
 }
 
+// runRound executes one collection round: first all parallel collectors
+// concurrently, then the serial collectors one by one
+func (cm *collectorManager) runRound(t time.Time) {
+	roundStart := time.Now()
+	for _, c := range cm.collectors {
+		// Read metrics from collector c via goroutine
+		cclog.ComponentDebug("CollectorManager", c.Name(), t)
+		cm.collector_wg.Add(1)
+		go func(myc MetricCollector) {
+			start := time.Now()
+			myc.Read(cm.duration, cm.output)
+			cclog.ComponentDebug("CollectorManager", myc.Name(), "took", time.Since(start))
+			cm.collector_wg.Done()
+		}(c)
+	}
+	cm.collector_wg.Wait()
+	for _, c := range cm.serial {
+		// Read metrics from collector c
+		cclog.ComponentDebug("CollectorManager", c.Name(), t)
+		start := time.Now()
+		c.Read(cm.duration, cm.output)
+		cclog.ComponentDebug("CollectorManager", c.Name(), "took", time.Since(start))
+	}
+	cclog.ComponentDebug("CollectorManager", "collection round took", time.Since(roundStart))
+}
+
 // Start starts the metric collector manager
 func (cm *collectorManager) Start() {
-	tick := make(chan time.Time)
+	tick := make(chan time.Time, 1)
 	cm.ticker.AddChannel(tick)
 
 	cm.wg.Go(func() {
 		// Collector manager is done
 		done := func() {
-			// close all metric collectors
-			if cm.parallel_run {
-				cm.collector_wg.Wait()
-				cm.parallel_run = false
-			}
+			// wait for a still running collection round, then close all metric collectors
+			cm.round_wg.Wait()
 			for _, c := range cm.collectors {
 				c.Close()
 			}
+			for _, c := range cm.serial {
+				c.Close()
+			}
 			close(cm.done)
 			cclog.ComponentDebug("CollectorManager", "DONE")
 		}
 
+		var roundStart time.Time
+
 		// Wait for done signal or timer event
 		for {
 			select {
@@ -148,37 +178,20 @@ func (cm *collectorManager) Start() {
 				done()
 				return
 			case t := <-tick:
-				cm.parallel_run = true
-				for _, c := range cm.collectors {
-					// Wait for done signal or execute the collector
-					select {
-					case <-cm.done:
-						done()
-						return
-					default:
-						// Read metrics from collector c via goroutine
-						cclog.ComponentDebug("CollectorManager", c.Name(), t)
-						cm.collector_wg.Add(1)
-						go func(myc MetricCollector) {
-							myc.Read(cm.duration, cm.output)
-							cm.collector_wg.Done()
-						}(c)
-					}
-				}
-				cm.collector_wg.Wait()
-				cm.parallel_run = false
-				for _, c := range cm.serial {
-					// Wait for done signal or execute the collector
-					select {
-					case <-cm.done:
-						done()
-						return
-					default:
-						// Read metrics from collector c
-						cclog.ComponentDebug("CollectorManager", c.Name(), t)
-						c.Read(cm.duration, cm.output)
-					}
+				// The round runs detached from this loop, so the tick channel
+				// stays drained even when a round takes longer than the interval
+				if cm.round_running.Load() {
+					cclog.ComponentWarn("CollectorManager", "collection round still running after", time.Since(roundStart), "- skipping tick")
+					continue
 				}
+				cm.round_running.Store(true)
+				roundStart = time.Now()
+				cm.round_wg.Add(1)
+				go func() {
+					defer cm.round_wg.Done()
+					defer cm.round_running.Store(false)
+					cm.runRound(t)
+				}()
 			}
 		}
 	})
diff --git a/collectors/collectorManager_test.go b/collectors/collectorManager_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..06af24d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/collectors/collectorManager_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+package collectors
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	lp "github.com/ClusterCockpit/cc-lib/v2/ccMessage"
+)
+
+// Fake ticker that delivers ticks on demand
+type fakeTicker struct {
+	channels []chan time.Time
+}
+
+func (t *fakeTicker) Init(duration time.Duration) {}
+
+func (t *fakeTicker) AddChannel(c chan time.Time) {
+	t.channels = append(t.channels, c)
+}
+
+func (t *fakeTicker) Close() {}
+
+func (t *fakeTicker) tick() {
+	for _, c := range t.channels {
+		select {
+		case c <- time.Now():
+		default:
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// Stub collector whose Read blocks until it is released
+type stubCollector struct {
+	metricCollector
+	readStarted chan struct{}
+	release     chan struct{}
+	reads       atomic.Int32
+}
+
+func (c *stubCollector) Init(config json.RawMessage) error {
+	c.name = "teststub"
+	c.parallel = true
+	c.init = true
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (c *stubCollector) Read(duration time.Duration, output chan lp.CCMessage) {
+	c.reads.Add(1)
+	c.readStarted <- struct{}{}
+	<-c.release
+}
+
+func (c *stubCollector) Close() {}
+
+func TestOverlongCollectionRoundSkipsTick(t *testing.T) {
+	stub := &stubCollector{
+		readStarted: make(chan struct{}, 10),
+		release:     make(chan struct{}),
+	}
+	AvailableCollectors["teststub"] = stub
+	defer delete(AvailableCollectors, "teststub")
+
+	ticker := &fakeTicker{}
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	cm, err := New(ticker, time.Second, &wg, json.RawMessage(`{"teststub": {}}`))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to setup collector manager: %s", err.Error())
+	}
+	cm.AddOutput(make(chan lp.CCMessage, 100))
+	cm.Start()
+
+	// First tick starts a collection round that blocks in Read
+	ticker.tick()
+	select {
+	case <-stub.readStarted:
+	case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("collection round did not start on tick")
+	}
+
+	// Further ticks while the round is still running must be skipped,
+	// not queued up or run concurrently
+	for range 3 {
+		ticker.tick()
+		time.Sleep(20 * time.Millisecond)
+	}
+	if got := stub.reads.Load(); got != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 1 concurrent collection round, got %d reads", got)
+	}
+
+	// Finish the round, the next tick must start a new one
+	stub.release <- struct{}{}
+	deadline := time.After(5 * time.Second)
+	for stub.reads.Load() < 2 {
+		ticker.tick()
+		select {
+		case <-stub.readStarted:
+		case <-time.After(20 * time.Millisecond):
+		case <-deadline:
+			t.Fatal("no new collection round started after the previous one finished")
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Shutdown must wait for the running round and terminate cleanly.
+	// Closing the release channel lets any still running or straggler
+	// round finish immediately
+	close(stub.release)
+	closed := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		cm.Close()
+		close(closed)
+	}()
+	select {
+	case <-closed:
+	case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("Close() did not terminate")
+	}
+	wg.Wait()
+}
diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
index 88fd669..7265b42 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ The global file contains the paths to the other four files and some global optio
 
 Be aware that the paths are relative to the execution folder of the cc-metric-collector binary, so it is recommended to use absolute paths.
 
+The optional `channel_buffer_size` option sets the capacity of the internal channels between the components (collectors → router → sinks). If unset, it defaults to `max(200, 24 * number of CPUs)` so that one interval's burst of per-hwthread metrics fits without back-pressuring the collectors on nodes with many cores.
+
 ## Component configuration
 
 The others are mainly list of of subcomponents: the collectors, the receivers, the router and the sinks. Their role is best shown in a picture:
diff --git a/internal/metricRouter/metricCache.go b/internal/metricRouter/metricCache.go
index 9f22bdf..fdf0998 100644
--- a/internal/metricRouter/metricCache.go
+++ b/internal/metricRouter/metricCache.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func (c *metricCache) Init(output chan lp.CCMessage, ticker mct.MultiChanTicker,
 
 // Start starts the metric cache
 func (c *metricCache) Start() {
-	c.tickchan = make(chan time.Time)
+	c.tickchan = make(chan time.Time, 1)
 	c.ticker.AddChannel(c.tickchan)
 	// Router cache is done
 	done := func() {
diff --git a/internal/metricRouter/metricRouter.go b/internal/metricRouter/metricRouter.go
index 718b6aa..4c6475a 100644
--- a/internal/metricRouter/metricRouter.go
+++ b/internal/metricRouter/metricRouter.go
@@ -228,11 +228,25 @@ func (r *metricRouter) DoAddTags(point lp.CCMessage) {
 func (r *metricRouter) Start() {
 	// start timer if configured
 	r.timestamp = time.Now()
-	timeChan := make(chan time.Time)
+	timeChan := make(chan time.Time, 1)
 	if r.config.IntervalStamp {
 		r.ticker.AddChannel(timeChan)
 	}
 
+	// Drain a pending tick before stamping new metrics, so a new interval's
+	// metrics never carry the previous interval's timestamp
+	updateTimestamp := func() {
+		if !r.config.IntervalStamp {
+			return
+		}
+		select {
+		case timestamp := <-timeChan:
+			r.timestamp = timestamp
+			cclog.ComponentDebug("MetricRouter", "Update timestamp", r.timestamp.UnixNano())
+		default:
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Router manager is done
 	done := func() {
 		close(r.done)
@@ -298,14 +312,19 @@ func (r *metricRouter) Start() {
 			case timestamp := <-timeChan:
 				r.timestamp = timestamp
 				cclog.ComponentDebug("MetricRouter", "Update timestamp", r.timestamp.UnixNano())
+				if len(r.coll_input) == cap(r.coll_input) {
+					cclog.ComponentWarn("MetricRouter", "collector input channel full at tick, sinks may be too slow")
+				}
 
 			case p := <-r.coll_input:
+				updateTimestamp()
 				coll_forward(p)
 				for i := 0; len(r.coll_input) > 0 && i < (r.maxForward-1); i++ {
 					coll_forward(<-r.coll_input)
 				}
 
 			case p := <-r.recv_input:
+				updateTimestamp()
 				recv_forward(p)
 				for i := 0; len(r.recv_input) > 0 && i < (r.maxForward-1); i++ {
 					recv_forward(<-r.recv_input)
diff --git a/internal/metricRouter/metricRouter_test.go b/internal/metricRouter/metricRouter_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..79c61aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/metricRouter/metricRouter_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+package metricRouter
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	lp "github.com/ClusterCockpit/cc-lib/v2/ccMessage"
+)
+
+// Fake ticker that delivers ticks on demand
+type fakeTicker struct {
+	channels []chan time.Time
+}
+
+func (t *fakeTicker) Init(duration time.Duration) {}
+
+func (t *fakeTicker) AddChannel(c chan time.Time) {
+	t.channels = append(t.channels, c)
+}
+
+func (t *fakeTicker) Close() {}
+
+func (t *fakeTicker) tick(ts time.Time) {
+	for _, c := range t.channels {
+		c <- ts
+	}
+}
+
+func genMessages(t *testing.T, num int) []lp.CCMessage {
+	t.Helper()
+	msgs := make([]lp.CCMessage, 0, num)
+	tags := map[string]string{"type": "node"}
+	for i := range num {
+		m, err := lp.NewMetric(fmt.Sprintf("testmetric%d", i), tags, nil, 42.0, time.Unix(1, 0))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("failed to create message: %s", err.Error())
+		}
+		msgs = append(msgs, m)
+	}
+	return msgs
+}
+
+// With interval_timestamp enabled, all metrics forwarded after a tick must
+// carry that tick's timestamp, never the previous interval's
+func TestIntervalTimestamp(t *testing.T) {
+	ticker := &fakeTicker{}
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	r, err := New(ticker, &wg, json.RawMessage(`{"interval_timestamp": true}`))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to setup metric router: %s", err.Error())
+	}
+
+	coll := make(chan lp.CCMessage, 100)
+	out := make(chan lp.CCMessage, 100)
+	r.AddCollectorInput(coll)
+	r.AddOutput(out)
+	r.Start()
+
+	receiveAll := func(num int) []lp.CCMessage {
+		received := make([]lp.CCMessage, 0, num)
+		for len(received) < num {
+			select {
+			case m := <-out:
+				received = append(received, m)
+			case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+				t.Fatalf("received only %d of %d messages", len(received), num)
+			}
+		}
+		return received
+	}
+
+	for interval, tickTime := range []time.Time{time.Unix(1000, 0), time.Unix(1010, 0)} {
+		ticker.tick(tickTime)
+		msgs := genMessages(t, 20)
+		for _, m := range msgs {
+			coll <- m
+		}
+		for i, m := range receiveAll(len(msgs)) {
+			if !m.Time().Equal(tickTime) {
+				t.Errorf("interval %d message %d: got timestamp %v, want %v", interval, i, m.Time(), tickTime)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	closed := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		r.Close()
+		close(closed)
+	}()
+	select {
+	case <-closed:
+	case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("Close() did not terminate")
+	}
+	wg.Wait()
+}
diff --git a/pkg/multiChanTicker/README.md b/pkg/multiChanTicker/README.md
index 782c240..e39e9fd 100644
--- a/pkg/multiChanTicker/README.md
+++ b/pkg/multiChanTicker/README.md
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ Afterwards, you can add channels:
 
 ```golang
 t := MultiChanTicker(duration)
-c1 := make(chan time.Time)
-c2 := make(chan time.Time)
+c1 := make(chan time.Time, 1)
+c2 := make(chan time.Time, 1)
 t.AddChannel(c1)
 t.AddChannel(c2)
 
@@ -46,3 +46,5 @@ for {
 ```
 
 The result should be the same `time.Time` output in both channels, notified "simultaneously".
+
+Ticks are delivered with a non-blocking send: a consumer that has not yet read the previous tick does not stall the ticker (which would silently drop `time.Ticker` fires for all consumers); instead, the tick for that consumer is skipped and a warning is logged. Register buffered channels (capacity 1) so a consumer that is briefly busy at tick time does not lose the tick.
diff --git a/pkg/multiChanTicker/multiChanTicker.go b/pkg/multiChanTicker/multiChanTicker.go
index 86f3376..bad75b8 100644
--- a/pkg/multiChanTicker/multiChanTicker.go
+++ b/pkg/multiChanTicker/multiChanTicker.go
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 package multiChanTicker
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
+	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	cclog "github.com/ClusterCockpit/cc-lib/v2/ccLogger"
@@ -15,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 
 type multiChanTicker struct {
 	ticker   *time.Ticker
+	mutex    sync.Mutex // protects channels, which is appended to while the tick goroutine iterates it
 	channels []chan time.Time
 	done     chan bool
 }
@@ -40,21 +43,30 @@ func (t *multiChanTicker) Init(duration time.Duration) {
 				return
 			case ts := <-t.ticker.C:
 				cclog.ComponentDebug("MultiChanTicker", "Tick", ts)
-				for _, c := range t.channels {
+				t.mutex.Lock()
+				for i, c := range t.channels {
+					// Non-blocking send: a consumer that has not yet read the
+					// previous tick must not stall the ticker, otherwise
+					// time.Ticker silently drops fires for ALL consumers
 					select {
-					case <-t.done:
-						done()
-						return
 					case c <- ts:
+					default:
+						cclog.ComponentWarn("MultiChanTicker", fmt.Sprintf("consumer %d did not read previous tick, dropping tick %v", i, ts))
 					}
 				}
+				t.mutex.Unlock()
 			}
 		}
 	}()
 }
 
 func (t *multiChanTicker) AddChannel(channel chan time.Time) {
+	if cap(channel) == 0 {
+		cclog.ComponentWarn("MultiChanTicker", "unbuffered channel registered, ticks may be dropped if the consumer is not ready")
+	}
+	t.mutex.Lock()
 	t.channels = append(t.channels, channel)
+	t.mutex.Unlock()
 }
 
 func (t *multiChanTicker) Close() {
diff --git a/pkg/multiChanTicker/multiChanTicker_test.go b/pkg/multiChanTicker/multiChanTicker_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1a2da5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/multiChanTicker/multiChanTicker_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+package multiChanTicker
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// A consumer that never reads its channel must not stall the ticker
+// or starve the other consumers
+func TestStalledConsumerDoesNotStarveOthers(t *testing.T) {
+	stalled := make(chan time.Time, 1) // never read
+	fast := make(chan time.Time, 1)
+
+	ticker := NewTicker(10 * time.Millisecond)
+	defer ticker.Close()
+	ticker.AddChannel(stalled)
+	ticker.AddChannel(fast)
+
+	received := 0
+	deadline := time.After(5 * time.Second)
+	for received < 5 {
+		select {
+		case <-fast:
+			received++
+		case <-deadline:
+			t.Fatalf("received only %d ticks while another consumer stalled", received)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// Close() must return promptly even if no consumer reads its channel
+func TestCloseWithStalledConsumer(t *testing.T) {
+	stalled := make(chan time.Time, 1) // never read
+
+	ticker := NewTicker(10 * time.Millisecond)
+	ticker.AddChannel(stalled)
+
+	// Let some ticks fire and be dropped
+	time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond)
+
+	closed := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		ticker.Close()
+		close(closed)
+	}()
+	select {
+	case <-closed:
+	case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("Close() blocked with a stalled consumer")
+	}
+}