diff --git a/opentelemetry-sdk/src/metrics/periodic_reader.rs b/opentelemetry-sdk/src/metrics/periodic_reader.rs
index 304b6736dd..ff96e037b9 100644
--- a/opentelemetry-sdk/src/metrics/periodic_reader.rs
+++ b/opentelemetry-sdk/src/metrics/periodic_reader.rs
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ impl PeriodicReader {
         let reader = PeriodicReader {
             inner: Arc::new(PeriodicReaderInner {
                 message_sender: Arc::new(message_sender),
-                is_shutdown: AtomicBool::new(false),
+                shutdown_invoked: AtomicBool::new(false),
                 producer: Mutex::new(None),
                 exporter: Arc::new(exporter),
             }),
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ struct PeriodicReaderInner {
     exporter: Arc<dyn PushMetricExporter>,
     message_sender: Arc<mpsc::Sender<Message>>,
     producer: Mutex<Option<Weak<dyn SdkProducer>>>,
-    is_shutdown: AtomicBool,
+    shutdown_invoked: AtomicBool,
 }
 
 impl PeriodicReaderInner {
@@ -314,10 +314,6 @@ impl PeriodicReaderInner {
     }
 
     fn collect(&self, rm: &mut ResourceMetrics) -> MetricResult<()> {
-        if self.is_shutdown.load(std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed) {
-            return Err(MetricError::Other("reader is shut down".into()));
-        }
-
         let producer = self.producer.lock().expect("lock poisoned");
         if let Some(p) = producer.as_ref() {
             p.upgrade()
@@ -378,9 +374,28 @@ impl PeriodicReaderInner {
     }
 
     fn force_flush(&self) -> MetricResult<()> {
-        if self.is_shutdown.load(std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed) {
-            return Err(MetricError::Other("reader is shut down".into()));
+        if self
+            .shutdown_invoked
+            .load(std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed)
+        {
+            return Err(MetricError::Other(
+                "Cannot perform flush as PeriodicReader shutdown already invoked.".into(),
+            ));
         }
+
+        // TODO: Better message for this scenario.
+        // Flush and Shutdown called from 2 threads Flush check shutdown
+        // flag before shutdown thread sets it. Both threads attempt to send
+        // message to the same channel. Case1: Flush thread sends message first,
+        // shutdown thread sends message next. Flush would succeed, as
+        // background thread won't process shutdown message until flush
+        // triggered export is done. Case2: Shutdown thread sends message first,
+        // flush thread sends message next. Shutdown would succeed, as
+        // background thread would process shutdown message first. The
+        // background exits so it won't receive the flush message. ForceFlush
+        // returns Failure, but we could indicate specifically that shutdown has
+        // completed. TODO is to see if this message can be improved.
+
         let (response_tx, response_rx) = mpsc::channel();
         self.message_sender
             .send(Message::Flush(response_tx))
@@ -399,8 +414,13 @@ impl PeriodicReaderInner {
     }
 
     fn shutdown(&self) -> MetricResult<()> {
-        if self.is_shutdown.load(std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed) {
-            return Err(MetricError::Other("Reader is already shut down".into()));
+        if self
+            .shutdown_invoked
+            .swap(true, std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed)
+        {
+            return Err(MetricError::Other(
+                "PeriodicReader shutdown already invoked.".into(),
+            ));
         }
 
         // TODO: See if this is better to be created upfront.
@@ -410,16 +430,12 @@ impl PeriodicReaderInner {
             .map_err(|e| MetricError::Other(e.to_string()))?;
 
         if let Ok(response) = response_rx.recv() {
-            self.is_shutdown
-                .store(true, std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed);
             if response {
                 Ok(())
             } else {
                 Err(MetricError::Other("Failed to shutdown".into()))
             }
         } else {
-            self.is_shutdown
-                .store(true, std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed);
             Err(MetricError::Other("Failed to shutdown".into()))
         }
     }
@@ -697,6 +713,7 @@ mod tests {
         collection_triggered_by_interval_helper();
         collection_triggered_by_flush_helper();
         collection_triggered_by_shutdown_helper();
+        collection_triggered_by_drop_helper();
     }
 
     #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread", worker_threads = 1)]
@@ -704,6 +721,7 @@ mod tests {
         collection_triggered_by_interval_helper();
         collection_triggered_by_flush_helper();
         collection_triggered_by_shutdown_helper();
+        collection_triggered_by_drop_helper();
     }
 
     #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread", worker_threads = 2)]
@@ -711,6 +729,7 @@ mod tests {
         collection_triggered_by_interval_helper();
         collection_triggered_by_flush_helper();
         collection_triggered_by_shutdown_helper();
+        collection_triggered_by_drop_helper();
     }
 
     #[tokio::test(flavor = "current_thread")]
@@ -718,6 +737,7 @@ mod tests {
         collection_triggered_by_interval_helper();
         collection_triggered_by_flush_helper();
         collection_triggered_by_shutdown_helper();
+        collection_triggered_by_drop_helper();
     }
 
     fn collection_triggered_by_interval_helper() {
@@ -742,7 +762,13 @@ mod tests {
         });
     }
 
-    fn collection_helper(trigger: fn(&SdkMeterProvider)) {
+    fn collection_triggered_by_drop_helper() {
+        collection_helper(|meter_provider| {
+            drop(meter_provider);
+        });
+    }
+
+    fn collection_helper(trigger: fn(SdkMeterProvider)) {
         // Arrange
         let interval = std::time::Duration::from_millis(10);
         let exporter = InMemoryMetricExporter::default();
@@ -762,7 +788,7 @@ mod tests {
             .build();
 
         // Act
-        trigger(&meter_provider);
+        trigger(meter_provider);
 
         // Assert
         receiver