diff --git a/pubsublite/internal/wire/publisher.go b/pubsublite/internal/wire/publisher.go
index bdff3f138a7f..90d01fbd31e0 100644
--- a/pubsublite/internal/wire/publisher.go
+++ b/pubsublite/internal/wire/publisher.go
@@ -385,7 +385,9 @@ func NewPublisher(ctx context.Context, settings PublishSettings, region, topicPa
 
 	msgRouterFactory := newMessageRouterFactory(rand.New(rand.NewSource(time.Now().UnixNano())))
 	pubFactory := &singlePartitionPublisherFactory{
-		ctx:       ctx,
+		// The user-provided context is used for background tasks (e.g. stream
+		// reconnects).
+		ctx:       context.Background(),
 		pubClient: pubClient,
 		settings:  settings,
 		topicPath: topicPath,