diff --git a/lib/datadog/statsd/forwarder.rb b/lib/datadog/statsd/forwarder.rb
index a7d9ad73..07b65450 100644
--- a/lib/datadog/statsd/forwarder.rb
+++ b/lib/datadog/statsd/forwarder.rb
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def initialize(
           overflowing_stategy: buffer_overflowing_stategy,
         )
 
-        @sender = single_thread ? SingleThreadSender.new(buffer) : Sender.new(buffer)
+        @sender = single_thread ? SingleThreadSender.new(buffer) : Sender.new(buffer, logger: logger)
         @sender.start
       end
 
diff --git a/lib/datadog/statsd/sender.rb b/lib/datadog/statsd/sender.rb
index 0ebee5f3..a66f08ac 100644
--- a/lib/datadog/statsd/sender.rb
+++ b/lib/datadog/statsd/sender.rb
@@ -12,13 +12,20 @@ class Statsd
     class Sender
       CLOSEABLE_QUEUES = Queue.instance_methods.include?(:close)
 
-      def initialize(message_buffer)
+      def initialize(message_buffer, logger: nil)
         @message_buffer = message_buffer
+        @logger = logger
       end
 
       def flush(sync: false)
-        # don't try to flush if there is no message_queue instantiated
-        return unless message_queue
+        # don't try to flush if there is no message_queue instantiated or
+        # no companion thread running
+        if !message_queue || !sender_thread.alive?
+          @logger.warn { "Statsd: can't flush: no message queue or sender_thread alive" } if @logger
+          return
+        end
+
+        return unless message_queue && sender_thread.alive?
 
         message_queue.push(:flush)
 
@@ -39,11 +46,14 @@ def rendez_vous
       def add(message)
         raise ArgumentError, 'Start sender first' unless message_queue
 
-        # if the thread does not exist, we are probably running in a forked process,
-        # empty the message queue (these messages belong to parent process) and spawn
-        # a new companion thread.
+        # if the thread does not exist, we assume we are running in a forked process,
+        # empty the message queue and message buffers (these messages belong to
+        # the parent process) and spawn a new companion thread.
         if !sender_thread.alive?
+          @logger.warn { "Statsd: companion thread dead, re-creating one" } if @logger
+          message_queue.close if CLOSEABLE_QUEUES
           @message_queue = nil
+          message_buffer.reset
           start
         end
 
@@ -53,7 +63,7 @@ def add(message)
       def start
         raise ArgumentError, 'Sender already started' if message_queue
 
-        # initialize message queue for background thread
+        # initialize a new message queue for the background thread
         @message_queue = Queue.new
         # start background thread
         @sender_thread = Thread.new(&method(:send_loop))
diff --git a/spec/statsd/forwarder_spec.rb b/spec/statsd/forwarder_spec.rb
index 96d553af..08adba63 100644
--- a/spec/statsd/forwarder_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/statsd/forwarder_spec.rb
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
       it 'builds the sender' do
         expect(Datadog::Statsd::Sender)
           .to receive(:new)
-          .with(message_buffer)
+          .with(message_buffer, logger: logger)
           .exactly(1)
 
         subject
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@
       it 'builds the sender' do
         expect(Datadog::Statsd::Sender)
           .to receive(:new)
-          .with(message_buffer)
+          .with(message_buffer, logger: logger)
           .exactly(1)
 
         subject