diff --git a/src/sinks/util/buffer/metrics/mod.rs b/src/sinks/util/buffer/metrics/mod.rs
index 3e149d820acdf..93e4f46ca9682 100644
--- a/src/sinks/util/buffer/metrics/mod.rs
+++ b/src/sinks/util/buffer/metrics/mod.rs
@@ -728,4 +728,41 @@ mod tests {
         // as incremental metrics and this results in an empty buffer.
         assert_eq!(buffer.len(), 0);
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn normalizer_does_not_hold_finalizer_references() {
+        use vector_common::finalization::{BatchNotifier, BatchStatus, EventFinalizer, EventStatus};
+
+        let (batch, mut receiver) = BatchNotifier::new_with_receiver();
+
+        let metrics: Vec<Metric> = (0..3)
+            .map(|i| {
+                let mut m = sample_counter(i, "production", Incremental, 1.0);
+                m.add_finalizer(EventFinalizer::new(batch.clone()));
+                m
+            })
+            .collect();
+
+        // Drop our handle so only the metrics hold references
+        drop(batch);
+
+        let mut normalizer = MetricNormalizer::<AbsoluteMetricNormalizer>::default();
+        let mut normalized = Vec::new();
+        for metric in metrics {
+            if let Some(m) = normalizer.normalize(metric) {
+                normalized.push(m);
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Simulate what the Driver does: mark delivered, then drop finalizers
+        for mut metric in normalized {
+            metric.metadata().update_status(EventStatus::Delivered);
+            metric.metadata_mut().take_finalizers();
+        }
+
+        // The normalization cache must not retain Arc<EventFinalizer> references.
+        // If it did, the batch notification would never fire and the disk buffer
+        // could not acknowledge the events, eventually causing a deadlock.
+        assert_eq!(receiver.try_recv(), Ok(BatchStatus::Delivered));
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/sinks/util/buffer/metrics/normalize.rs b/src/sinks/util/buffer/metrics/normalize.rs
index c244506508f18..09db988006097 100644
--- a/src/sinks/util/buffer/metrics/normalize.rs
+++ b/src/sinks/util/buffer/metrics/normalize.rs
@@ -590,10 +590,19 @@ impl MetricSet {
                     metric = metric.with_value(new_value);
                 }
                 // Insert the updated stored value, or as store a new reference value (if the Metric changed type)
-                self.insert(metric.clone(), timestamp);
+                let mut cache_metric = metric.clone();
+                // Strip finalizers from the clone before caching. The normalization
+                // cache must not hold Arc<EventFinalizer> references, as that
+                // prevents the disk buffer from acknowledging events — leading to
+                // a deadlock once the buffer fills and no new events can replace
+                // cache entries.
+                cache_metric.metadata_mut().take_finalizers();
+                self.insert(cache_metric, timestamp);
             }
             None => {
-                self.insert(metric.clone(), timestamp);
+                let mut cache_metric = metric.clone();
+                cache_metric.metadata_mut().take_finalizers();
+                self.insert(cache_metric, timestamp);
             }
         }
         metric.into_absolute()
@@ -636,13 +645,18 @@ impl MetricSet {
                     self.insert_with_tracking(metric.series().clone(), new_reference);
                     Some(metric.into_incremental())
                 } else {
-                    // Metric changed type, store this and emit nothing
+                    // Metric changed type, store this and emit nothing.
+                    // Strip finalizers — the normalization cache must not hold
+                    // Arc<EventFinalizer> references (see incremental_to_absolute).
+                    metric.metadata_mut().take_finalizers();
                     self.insert(metric, timestamp);
                     None
                 }
             }
             None => {
-                // No reference so store this and emit nothing
+                // No reference so store this and emit nothing.
+                // Strip finalizers before caching (see incremental_to_absolute).
+                metric.metadata_mut().take_finalizers();
                 self.insert(metric, timestamp);
                 None
             }
diff --git a/src/sinks/util/builder.rs b/src/sinks/util/builder.rs
index 725e20d974782..175cb7a92fc81 100644
--- a/src/sinks/util/builder.rs
+++ b/src/sinks/util/builder.rs
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ pub trait SinkBuilderExt: Stream {
         Self: Stream<Item = Metric> + Unpin + Sized,
         N: MetricNormalize + Default,
     {
-        match maybe_ttl_secs {
+        match maybe_ttl_secs.filter(|&ttl| ttl > 0.0) {
             None => Normalizer::new(self, N::default()),
             Some(ttl) => {
                 Normalizer::new_with_ttl(self, N::default(), Duration::from_secs(ttl as u64))