diff --git a/pkg/kgo/producer.go b/pkg/kgo/producer.go
index 6e1bbc62..7119b9c4 100644
--- a/pkg/kgo/producer.go
+++ b/pkg/kgo/producer.go
@@ -1015,6 +1015,8 @@ func (p *producer) maybeAddInflight() bool {
 
 func (p *producer) decInflight() {
 	if p.inflight.Add(-1)>>48 > 0 {
+		p.mu.Lock()
+		p.mu.Unlock() //nolint:gocritic,staticcheck // We use the lock as a barrier, unlocking immediately is safe.
 		p.c.Broadcast()
 	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/kgo/ring.go b/pkg/kgo/ring.go
index c0eb5bd2..43ee72a6 100644
--- a/pkg/kgo/ring.go
+++ b/pkg/kgo/ring.go
@@ -172,32 +172,27 @@ type ringSeqResp struct {
 	head uint8
 	tail uint8
 	l    uint8
-	dead bool
 }
 
-func (r *ringSeqResp) push(sr *seqResp) (first, dead bool) {
+func (r *ringSeqResp) push(sr *seqResp) (first bool) {
 	r.mu.Lock()
 	defer r.mu.Unlock()
 
-	for r.l == eight && !r.dead {
+	for r.l == eight {
 		if r.c == nil {
 			r.c = sync.NewCond(&r.mu)
 		}
 		r.c.Wait()
 	}
 
-	if r.dead {
-		return false, true
-	}
-
 	r.elems[r.tail] = sr
 	r.tail = (r.tail + 1) & mask7
 	r.l++
 
-	return r.l == 1, false
+	return r.l == 1
 }
 
-func (r *ringSeqResp) dropPeek() (next *seqResp, more, dead bool) {
+func (r *ringSeqResp) dropPeek() (next *seqResp, more bool) {
 	r.mu.Lock()
 	defer r.mu.Unlock()
 
@@ -209,7 +204,7 @@ func (r *ringSeqResp) dropPeek() (next *seqResp, more, dead bool) {
 		r.c.Signal()
 	}
 
-	return r.elems[r.head], r.l > 0, r.dead
+	return r.elems[r.head], r.l > 0
 }
 
 // Also no die; this type is slightly different because we can have overflow.
diff --git a/pkg/kgo/sink.go b/pkg/kgo/sink.go
index 1a37448b..ea013efc 100644
--- a/pkg/kgo/sink.go
+++ b/pkg/kgo/sink.go
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ func (s *sink) doSequenced(
 		wait.br = br
 	}
 
-	if first, _ := s.seqResps.push(wait); first {
+	if first := s.seqResps.push(wait); first {
 		go s.handleSeqResps(wait)
 	}
 }
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ start:
 	<-wait.done
 	wait.promise(wait.br, wait.resp, wait.err)
 
-	wait, more, _ = s.seqResps.dropPeek()
+	wait, more = s.seqResps.dropPeek()
 	if more {
 		goto start
 	}