diff --git a/pkg/promtail/targets/filetarget.go b/pkg/promtail/targets/filetarget.go
index 94f49817cafdc..2a70dd1e36161 100644
--- a/pkg/promtail/targets/filetarget.go
+++ b/pkg/promtail/targets/filetarget.go
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ func (t *FileTarget) run() {
 	defer func() {
 		helpers.LogError("closing watcher", t.watcher.Close)
 		for _, v := range t.tails {
-			helpers.LogError("updating tailer last position", v.markPosition)
+			helpers.LogError("updating tailer last position", v.markPositionAndSize)
 			helpers.LogError("stopping tailer", v.stop)
 		}
 		level.Debug(t.logger).Log("msg", "watcher closed, tailer stopped, positions saved")
@@ -325,15 +325,13 @@ func toStopTailing(nt []string, et map[string]*tailer) []string {
 
 func (t *FileTarget) reportSize(ms []string) {
 	for _, m := range ms {
-		// Ask the tailer for the file size as it keeps a direct handle on the file
-		// and avoids issues with renaming/replacing a file
+		// Ask the tailer to update the size if a tailer exists, this keeps position and size metrics in sync
 		if tailer, ok := t.tails[m]; ok {
-			s, err := tailer.size()
+			err := tailer.markPositionAndSize()
 			if err != nil {
 				level.Warn(t.logger).Log("msg", "failed to get file size from tailer, ", "file", m, "error", err)
 				return
 			}
-			totalBytes.WithLabelValues(m).Set(float64(s))
 		} else {
 			// Must be a new file, just directly read the size of it
 			fi, err := os.Stat(m)
diff --git a/pkg/promtail/targets/tailer.go b/pkg/promtail/targets/tailer.go
index 103e91293b832..ed44867406d2d 100644
--- a/pkg/promtail/targets/tailer.go
+++ b/pkg/promtail/targets/tailer.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package targets
 
 import (
 	"os"
+	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/go-kit/kit/log"
@@ -22,6 +23,8 @@ type tailer struct {
 	path string
 	tail *tail.Tail
 
+	posAndSizeMtx sync.Mutex
+
 	quit chan struct{}
 	done chan struct{}
 }
@@ -86,9 +89,9 @@ func (t *tailer) run() {
 	for {
 		select {
 		case <-positionWait.C:
-			err := t.markPosition()
+			err := t.markPositionAndSize()
 			if err != nil {
-				level.Error(t.logger).Log("msg", "error getting tail position", "path", t.path, "error", err)
+				level.Error(t.logger).Log("msg", "error getting tail position and/or size", "path", t.path, "error", err)
 				continue
 			}
 
@@ -112,28 +115,30 @@ func (t *tailer) run() {
 	}
 }
 
-func (t *tailer) markPosition() error {
+func (t *tailer) markPositionAndSize() error {
+	// Lock this update as there are 2 timers calling this routine, the sync in filetarget and the positions sync in this file.
+	t.posAndSizeMtx.Lock()
+	defer t.posAndSizeMtx.Unlock()
+
 	pos, err := t.tail.Tell()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-
 	readBytes.WithLabelValues(t.path).Set(float64(pos))
 	t.positions.Put(t.path, pos)
-	return nil
-}
 
-func (t *tailer) size() (int64, error) {
-	s, err := t.tail.Size()
+	size, err := t.tail.Size()
 	if err != nil {
-		return 0, err
+		return err
 	}
-	return s, nil
+	totalBytes.WithLabelValues(t.path).Set(float64(size))
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (t *tailer) stop() error {
 	// Save the current position before shutting down tailer
-	err := t.markPosition()
+	err := t.markPositionAndSize()
 	if err != nil {
 		level.Error(t.logger).Log("msg", "error getting tail position", "path", t.path, "error", err)
 	}