diff --git a/pageserver/src/page_service.rs b/pageserver/src/page_service.rs
index 1645dfc9d0..1917e7f5b7 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/page_service.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/page_service.rs
@@ -1196,41 +1196,37 @@ impl PageServerHandler {
 
         let cancel_batcher = self.cancel.child_token();
         let (mut batch_tx, mut batch_rx) = spsc_fold::channel();
-        let read_messages = pipeline_stage!(
-            "read_messages",
-            cancel_batcher.clone(),
-            move |cancel_batcher| {
-                let ctx = ctx.attached_child();
-                async move {
-                    let mut pgb_reader = pgb_reader;
-                    let mut exit = false;
-                    while !exit {
-                        let read_res = Self::pagestream_read_message(
-                            &mut pgb_reader,
-                            tenant_id,
-                            timeline_id,
-                            &mut timeline_handles,
-                            &cancel_batcher,
-                            &ctx,
-                            request_span.clone(),
-                        )
+        let batcher = pipeline_stage!("batcher", cancel_batcher.clone(), move |cancel_batcher| {
+            let ctx = ctx.attached_child();
+            async move {
+                let mut pgb_reader = pgb_reader;
+                let mut exit = false;
+                while !exit {
+                    let read_res = Self::pagestream_read_message(
+                        &mut pgb_reader,
+                        tenant_id,
+                        timeline_id,
+                        &mut timeline_handles,
+                        &cancel_batcher,
+                        &ctx,
+                        request_span.clone(),
+                    )
+                    .await;
+                    let Some(read_res) = read_res.transpose() else {
+                        debug!("client-initiated shutdown");
+                        break;
+                    };
+                    exit |= read_res.is_err();
+                    let could_send = batch_tx
+                        .send(read_res, |batch, res| {
+                            Self::pagestream_do_batch(max_batch_size, batch, res)
+                        })
                         .await;
-                        let Some(read_res) = read_res.transpose() else {
-                            debug!("client-initiated shutdown");
-                            break;
-                        };
-                        exit |= read_res.is_err();
-                        let could_send = batch_tx
-                            .send(read_res, |batch, res| {
-                                Self::pagestream_do_batch(max_batch_size, batch, res)
-                            })
-                            .await;
-                        exit |= could_send.is_err();
-                    }
-                    (pgb_reader, timeline_handles)
+                    exit |= could_send.is_err();
                 }
+                (pgb_reader, timeline_handles)
             }
-        );
+        });
 
         //
         // Executor
@@ -1267,11 +1263,11 @@ impl PageServerHandler {
 
         match execution {
             PageServiceProtocolPipelinedExecutionStrategy::ConcurrentFutures => {
-                tokio::join!(read_messages, executor)
+                tokio::join!(batcher, executor)
             }
             PageServiceProtocolPipelinedExecutionStrategy::Tasks => {
                 // These tasks are not tracked anywhere.
-                let read_messages_task = tokio::spawn(read_messages);
+                let read_messages_task = tokio::spawn(batcher);
                 let (read_messages_task_res, executor_res_) =
                     tokio::join!(read_messages_task, executor,);
                 (