diff --git a/pubsub/internal/scheduler/receive_scheduler.go b/pubsub/internal/scheduler/receive_scheduler.go
index e2cda6dd6bfa..dafccdd1cee3 100644
--- a/pubsub/internal/scheduler/receive_scheduler.go
+++ b/pubsub/internal/scheduler/receive_scheduler.go
@@ -15,9 +15,13 @@
 package scheduler
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"sync"
 )
 
+// ErrReceiveDraining indicates the scheduler has shutdown and is draining.
+var ErrReceiveDraining error = errors.New("pubsub: receive scheduler draining")
+
 // ReceiveScheduler is a scheduler which is designed for Pub/Sub's Receive flow.
 //
 // Each item is added with a given key. Items added to the empty string key are
@@ -67,6 +71,11 @@ func NewReceiveScheduler(workers int) *ReceiveScheduler {
 // call causes pushback to the pubsub service (less Receive calls on the
 // long-lived stream), which keeps memory footprint stable.
 func (s *ReceiveScheduler) Add(key string, item interface{}, handle func(item interface{})) error {
+	select {
+	case <-s.done:
+		return ErrReceiveDraining
+	default:
+	}
 	if key == "" {
 		// Spawn a worker.
 		s.workers <- struct{}{}
diff --git a/pubsub/subscription.go b/pubsub/subscription.go
index b3bb646a41ee..2d316e61ac59 100644
--- a/pubsub/subscription.go
+++ b/pubsub/subscription.go
@@ -1003,6 +1003,13 @@ func (s *Subscription) Receive(ctx context.Context, f func(context.Context, *Mes
 						f(ctx2, msg.(*Message))
 					}); err != nil {
 						wg.Done()
+						// If there are any errors with scheduling messages,
+						// nack them so they can be redelivered.
+						msg.Nack()
+						// Currently, only this error is returned by the receive scheduler.
+						if errors.Is(err, scheduler.ErrReceiveDraining) {
+							return nil
+						}
 						return err
 					}
 				}