diff --git a/python/bench/tracing_client_via_pyo3.py b/python/bench/tracing_client_via_pyo3.py
index cb1cd6b97..411b97f2c 100644
--- a/python/bench/tracing_client_via_pyo3.py
+++ b/python/bench/tracing_client_via_pyo3.py
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ def benchmark_run_creation(json_size, num_runs) -> None:
 
     if client._pyo3_client:
         # Wait for the queue to drain.
-        client._pyo3_client.drain()
+        del client
     else:
         client.tracing_queue.join()
 
diff --git a/python/bench/tracing_rust_client_bench.py b/python/bench/tracing_rust_client_bench.py
index 6c5203d98..3f846e5d9 100644
--- a/python/bench/tracing_rust_client_bench.py
+++ b/python/bench/tracing_rust_client_bench.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def benchmark_run_creation(num_runs: int, json_size: int, samples: int = 1) -> D
             client.create_run(run)
 
         # wait for client queues to be empty
-        client.drain()
+        del client
         elapsed = time.perf_counter() - start
 
         print(f"runs complete: {elapsed:.3f}s")
diff --git a/rust/crates/langsmith-pyo3/src/blocking_tracing_client.rs b/rust/crates/langsmith-pyo3/src/blocking_tracing_client.rs
index 77020bd74..6b3816f15 100644
--- a/rust/crates/langsmith-pyo3/src/blocking_tracing_client.rs
+++ b/rust/crates/langsmith-pyo3/src/blocking_tracing_client.rs
@@ -68,14 +68,19 @@ impl BlockingTracingClient {
         Python::allow_threads(slf.py(), || unpacked.client.submit_run_update(run.into_inner()))
             .map_err(|e| into_py_err(slf.py(), e))
     }
-
-    pub fn drain(slf: &Bound<'_, Self>) -> PyResult<()> {
-        let unpacked = slf.get();
-        Python::allow_threads(slf.py(), || unpacked.client.drain())
-            .map_err(|e| into_py_err(slf.py(), e))
-    }
 }
 
 fn into_py_err(py: Python<'_>, e: langsmith_tracing_client::client::TracingClientError) -> PyErr {
     crate::errors::TracingClientError::new_err(format!("{e}").into_py(py))
 }
+
+impl Drop for BlockingTracingClient {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        if Arc::strong_count(&self.client) == 1 {
+            // This is the only copy of the client in Python,
+            // so let it drain its in-progress requests before proceeding.
+            // This runs when Python runs GC on the client, such as when the application is exiting.
+            self.client.drain().expect("draining failed");
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/rust/crates/langsmith-tracing-client/src/client/blocking/processor.rs b/rust/crates/langsmith-tracing-client/src/client/blocking/processor.rs
index 2063516bf..6f0a0fb21 100644
--- a/rust/crates/langsmith-tracing-client/src/client/blocking/processor.rs
+++ b/rust/crates/langsmith-tracing-client/src/client/blocking/processor.rs
@@ -55,13 +55,7 @@ impl RunProcessor {
                         }
 
                         self.drain_sender.send(()).expect("drain_sender should never fail");
-
-                        // Put this thread to sleep, so we know the remaining `Drain` messages
-                        // are almost certainly answered by other worker threads.
-                        //
-                        // HACK: This is very hacky!
-                        //       Drain should only be used for benchmarking.
-                        std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_secs(120));
+                        break;
                     }
                     _ => {
                         buffer.push(queued_run);
diff --git a/rust/crates/langsmith-tracing-client/src/client/blocking/tracing_client.rs b/rust/crates/langsmith-tracing-client/src/client/blocking/tracing_client.rs
index f9f11e5a2..4861ffe3d 100644
--- a/rust/crates/langsmith-tracing-client/src/client/blocking/tracing_client.rs
+++ b/rust/crates/langsmith-tracing-client/src/client/blocking/tracing_client.rs
@@ -82,6 +82,15 @@ impl TracingClient {
         self.sender.send(queued_run).map_err(|_| TracingClientError::QueueFull)
     }
 
+    /// Complete all in-progress requests, then allow the worker threads to exit.
+    ///
+    /// Convenience function for the PyO3 bindings, which cannot use [`Self::shutdown`]
+    /// due to its by-value `self`. This means we cannot `.join()` the threads,
+    /// but the client is nevertheless unusable after this call.
+    ///
+    /// Sending further data after a [`Self::drain()`] call has unspecified behavior.
+    /// It will not cause *undefined behavior* in the programming language sense,
+    /// but it may e.g. cause errors, panics, or even silently fail, with no guarantees.
     pub fn drain(&self) -> Result<(), TracingClientError> {
         for _ in &self.handles {
             self.sender.send(QueuedRun::Drain).map_err(|_| TracingClientError::QueueFull)?;
diff --git a/rust/crates/langsmith-tracing-client/src/client/run.rs b/rust/crates/langsmith-tracing-client/src/client/run.rs
index b5308bc71..49d102eb7 100644
--- a/rust/crates/langsmith-tracing-client/src/client/run.rs
+++ b/rust/crates/langsmith-tracing-client/src/client/run.rs
@@ -93,6 +93,6 @@ pub(crate) enum QueuedRun {
     Update(RunUpdateExtended),
     #[expect(dead_code)]
     RunBytes(RunEventBytes),
-    Drain,
+    Drain,  // Like `Shutdown`, but explicitly sends a message confirming draining is complete.
     Shutdown,
 }