What you're describing (empty queue = unprepared for load) is a code smell, but the solution doesn't have to be "fill the queue sometimes". It could also be: *

What you're describing (empty queue = unprepared for load) is a code smell, but the solution doesn't have to be "fill the queue sometimes". It could also be: * (Mandatory) Have a back-pressure system. * (Optional, depends on system requirements) have auto-scaling of queue readers. * (Mandatory) Make sure the system is regularly load tested.