diff --git a/elasticapm/transport/base.py b/elasticapm/transport/base.py
index 487e13a935..24911c395d 100644
--- a/elasticapm/transport/base.py
+++ b/elasticapm/transport/base.py
@@ -292,7 +292,8 @@ def close(self) -> None:
         if not self._flushed.wait(timeout=self._max_flush_time_seconds):
             logger.error("Closing the transport connection timed out.")
 
-    stop_thread = close
+    def stop_thread(self) -> None:
+        self.close()
 
     def flush(self):
         """
diff --git a/elasticapm/transport/http.py b/elasticapm/transport/http.py
index 17ae50ba31..ed132068c6 100644
--- a/elasticapm/transport/http.py
+++ b/elasticapm/transport/http.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 
 import hashlib
 import json
+import os
 import re
 import ssl
 import urllib.parse
@@ -250,6 +251,23 @@ def ca_certs(self):
             return self._server_ca_cert_file
         return certifi.where() if (certifi and self.client.config.use_certifi) else None
 
+    def close(self):
+        """
+        Take care of being able to shutdown cleanly
+        :return:
+        """
+        if self._closed or (not self._thread or self._thread.pid != os.getpid()):
+            return
+
+        self._closed = True
+        # we are racing against urllib3 ConnectionPool weakref finalizer that would lead to having them closed
+        # and we hanging waiting for send any eventual queued data
+        # Force the creation of a new PoolManager so that we are always able to flush
+        self._http = None
+        self.queue("close", None)
+        if not self._flushed.wait(timeout=self._max_flush_time_seconds):
+            logger.error("Closing the transport connection timed out.")
+
 
 def version_string_to_tuple(version):
     if version:
diff --git a/tests/transports/test_urllib3.py b/tests/transports/test_urllib3.py
index b24408e54f..62a355bde0 100644
--- a/tests/transports/test_urllib3.py
+++ b/tests/transports/test_urllib3.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 
 
 import os
+import time
 
 import certifi
 import mock
@@ -517,3 +518,89 @@ def test_fetch_server_info_flat_string(waiting_httpserver, caplog, elasticapm_cl
         transport.fetch_server_info()
     assert elasticapm_client.server_version is None
     assert_any_record_contains(caplog.records, "No version key found in server response")
+
+
+def test_close(waiting_httpserver, elasticapm_client):
+    elasticapm_client.server_version = (8, 0, 0)  # avoid making server_info request
+    waiting_httpserver.serve_content(code=202, content="", headers={"Location": "http://example.com/foo"})
+    transport = Transport(
+        waiting_httpserver.url, client=elasticapm_client, headers=elasticapm_client._transport._headers
+    )
+    transport.start_thread()
+
+    transport.close()
+
+    assert transport._closed is True
+    assert transport._flushed.is_set() is True
+
+
+def test_close_does_nothing_if_called_from_another_pid(waiting_httpserver, caplog, elasticapm_client):
+    elasticapm_client.server_version = (8, 0, 0)  # avoid making server_info request
+    waiting_httpserver.serve_content(code=202, content="", headers={"Location": "http://example.com/foo"})
+    transport = Transport(
+        waiting_httpserver.url, client=elasticapm_client, headers=elasticapm_client._transport._headers
+    )
+    transport.start_thread()
+
+    with mock.patch("os.getpid") as getpid_mock:
+        getpid_mock.return_value = 0
+        transport.close()
+        time.sleep(0.1)
+
+    assert transport._closed is False
+
+    transport.close()
+
+
+def test_close_can_be_called_multiple_times(waiting_httpserver, caplog, elasticapm_client):
+    elasticapm_client.server_version = (8, 0, 0)  # avoid making server_info request
+    waiting_httpserver.serve_content(code=202, content="", headers={"Location": "http://example.com/foo"})
+    transport = Transport(
+        waiting_httpserver.url, client=elasticapm_client, headers=elasticapm_client._transport._headers
+    )
+    transport.start_thread()
+
+    with caplog.at_level("INFO", logger="elasticapm.transport.http"):
+        transport.close()
+
+    assert transport._closed is True
+
+    transport.close()
+
+
+def test_close_timeout_error_without_flushing(waiting_httpserver, caplog, elasticapm_client):
+    elasticapm_client.server_version = (8, 0, 0)  # avoid making server_info request
+    waiting_httpserver.serve_content(code=202, content="", headers={"Location": "http://example.com/foo"})
+
+    with caplog.at_level("INFO", logger="elasticapm.transport.http"):
+        with mock.patch.object(Transport, "_max_flush_time_seconds", 0):
+            with mock.patch.object(Transport, "_flush") as flush_mock:
+                # enough to take more that the timeout
+                flush_mock.side_effect = lambda: time.sleep(0.1)
+                transport = Transport(
+                    waiting_httpserver.url, client=elasticapm_client, headers=elasticapm_client._transport._headers
+                )
+                transport.start_thread()
+                transport.close()
+
+    assert transport._flushed.is_set() is False
+    assert transport._closed is True
+    record = caplog.records[-1]
+    assert "Closing the transport connection timed out." in record.msg
+
+
+def test_http_pool_manager_is_recycled_at_stop_thread(waiting_httpserver, caplog, elasticapm_client):
+    elasticapm_client.server_version = (8, 0, 0)  # avoid making server_info request
+    waiting_httpserver.serve_content(code=202, content="", headers={"Location": "http://example.com/foo"})
+    transport = Transport(
+        waiting_httpserver.url, client=elasticapm_client, headers=elasticapm_client._transport._headers
+    )
+    transport.start_thread()
+    pool_manager = transport.http
+
+    with caplog.at_level("INFO", logger="elasticapm.transport.http"):
+        transport.stop_thread()
+
+    assert transport._flushed.is_set() is True
+    assert pool_manager != transport._http
+    assert not caplog.records