diff --git a/libbeat/processors/ratelimit/rate_limit_test.go b/libbeat/processors/ratelimit/rate_limit_test.go
index f2f3dd2ffcf4..001512d75a08 100644
--- a/libbeat/processors/ratelimit/rate_limit_test.go
+++ b/libbeat/processors/ratelimit/rate_limit_test.go
@@ -176,3 +176,16 @@ func TestRateLimit(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func BenchmarkRateLimit(b *testing.B) {
+	p, err := new(conf.MustNewConfigFrom(mapstr.M{
+		"limit": "100/s",
+	}))
+	require.NoError(b, err)
+	event := beat.Event{Fields: mapstr.M{"field": 1}}
+
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		p.Run(&event)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/libbeat/processors/ratelimit/token_bucket.go b/libbeat/processors/ratelimit/token_bucket.go
index 1e84f799b986..f42e51d4a850 100644
--- a/libbeat/processors/ratelimit/token_bucket.go
+++ b/libbeat/processors/ratelimit/token_bucket.go
@@ -35,10 +35,36 @@ func init() {
 }
 
 type bucket struct {
+	mu sync.Mutex
+
 	tokens        float64
 	lastReplenish time.Time
 }
 
+func (b *bucket) withdraw() bool {
+	b.mu.Lock()
+	defer b.mu.Unlock()
+
+	if b.tokens < 1 {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	b.tokens--
+	return true
+}
+
+func (b *bucket) replenish(rate rate, clock clockwork.Clock) float64 {
+	b.mu.Lock()
+	defer b.mu.Unlock()
+
+	secsSinceLastReplenish := clock.Now().Sub(b.lastReplenish).Seconds()
+	tokensToReplenish := secsSinceLastReplenish * rate.valuePerSecond()
+
+	b.tokens += tokensToReplenish
+	b.lastReplenish = clock.Now()
+	return b.tokens
+}
+
 type tokenBucket struct {
 	mu unison.Mutex
 
@@ -128,31 +154,13 @@ func (t *tokenBucket) getBucket(key uint64) *bucket {
 	})
 	//nolint:errcheck // ignore
 	b := v.(*bucket)
-
 	if exists {
 		b.replenish(t.limit, t.clock)
-		return b
 	}
 
 	return b
 }
 
-func (b *bucket) withdraw() bool {
-	if b.tokens < 1 {
-		return false
-	}
-	b.tokens--
-	return true
-}
-
-func (b *bucket) replenish(rate rate, clock clockwork.Clock) {
-	secsSinceLastReplenish := clock.Now().Sub(b.lastReplenish).Seconds()
-	tokensToReplenish := secsSinceLastReplenish * rate.valuePerSecond()
-
-	b.tokens += tokensToReplenish
-	b.lastReplenish = clock.Now()
-}
-
 func (t *tokenBucket) runGC() {
 	// Don't run GC if thresholds haven't been crossed.
 	if t.gc.metrics.numCalls.Load() < uint64(t.gc.thresholds.NumCalls) {
@@ -177,9 +185,8 @@ func (t *tokenBucket) runGC() {
 			//nolint:errcheck // ignore
 			b := v.(*bucket)
 
-			b.replenish(t.limit, t.clock)
-
-			if b.tokens >= t.depth {
+			tokens := b.replenish(t.limit, t.clock)
+			if tokens >= t.depth {
 				toDelete = append(toDelete, key)
 			}
 
@@ -193,7 +200,7 @@ func (t *tokenBucket) runGC() {
 		}
 
 		// Reset GC metrics
-		t.gc.metrics.numCalls = atomic.Uint64{}
+		t.gc.metrics.numCalls.Store(0)
 
 		gcDuration := time.Since(gcStartTime)
 		numBucketsDeleted := len(toDelete)