diff --git a/pubsublite/internal/wire/acks.go b/pubsublite/internal/wire/acks.go
index 2e55fd7a688..99647243ed8 100644
--- a/pubsublite/internal/wire/acks.go
+++ b/pubsublite/internal/wire/acks.go
@@ -91,12 +91,15 @@ type ackTracker struct {
 	ackedPrefixOffset int64
 	// Outstanding message acks, strictly ordered by increasing message offsets.
 	outstandingAcks *list.List // Value = *ackConsumer
+	// Whether new acks can be pushed.
+	enablePush bool
 }
 
 func newAckTracker() *ackTracker {
 	return &ackTracker{
 		ackedPrefixOffset: nilCursorOffset,
 		outstandingAcks:   list.New(),
+		enablePush:        true,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -105,6 +108,11 @@ func (at *ackTracker) Push(ack *ackConsumer) error {
 	at.mu.Lock()
 	defer at.mu.Unlock()
 
+	if !at.enablePush {
+		ack.Clear()
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	// These errors should not occur unless there is a bug in the client library
 	// as message ordering should have been validated by subscriberOffsetTracker.
 	if ack.Offset <= at.ackedPrefixOffset {
@@ -136,12 +144,13 @@ func (at *ackTracker) CommitOffset() int64 {
 	return at.ackedPrefixOffset + 1
 }
 
-// Release clears and invalidates any outstanding acks. This should be called
-// when the subscriber terminates.
+// Release clears and invalidates any outstanding acks. Push will clear and
+// discard new acks. This should be called when the committer terminates.
 func (at *ackTracker) Release() {
 	at.mu.Lock()
 	defer at.mu.Unlock()
 
+	at.enablePush = false
 	at.unsafeProcessAcks()
 
 	for elem := at.outstandingAcks.Front(); elem != nil; elem = elem.Next() {
diff --git a/pubsublite/internal/wire/acks_test.go b/pubsublite/internal/wire/acks_test.go
index ea9f56bf342..4e94a5b4958 100644
--- a/pubsublite/internal/wire/acks_test.go
+++ b/pubsublite/internal/wire/acks_test.go
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ func TestAckTrackerRelease(t *testing.T) {
 	ack1 := newAckConsumer(1, 0, emptyAckConsumer)
 	ack2 := newAckConsumer(2, 0, onAckAfterRelease)
 	ack3 := newAckConsumer(3, 0, onAckAfterRelease)
+	ack4 := newAckConsumer(4, 0, onAckAfterRelease)
 
 	if err := ackTracker.Push(ack1); err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("ackTracker.Push() got err %v", err)
@@ -136,6 +137,15 @@ func TestAckTrackerRelease(t *testing.T) {
 	ack2.Ack()
 	ack3.Ack()
 
+	// New acks should be cleared and discarded.
+	if err := ackTracker.Push(ack4); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("ackTracker.Push() got err %v", err)
+	}
+	if got, want := ackTracker.Empty(), true; got != want {
+		t.Errorf("ackTracker.Empty() got %v, want %v", got, want)
+	}
+	ack4.Ack()
+
 	if got, want := ackTracker.CommitOffset(), int64(2); got != want {
 		t.Errorf("ackTracker.CommitOffset() got %v, want %v", got, want)
 	}