diff --git a/pkg/backup/backup_job.go b/pkg/backup/backup_job.go
index 9ae1a7569425..bc43b8e60b59 100644
--- a/pkg/backup/backup_job.go
+++ b/pkg/backup/backup_job.go
@@ -226,17 +226,35 @@ func backup(
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Create a channel that is large enough that it does not block.
-	perNodeProgressCh := make(chan map[execinfrapb.ComponentID]float32, numTotalSpans)
+	// Create a channel with a little buffering, but plan on dropping if blocked.
+	perNodeProgressCh := make(chan map[execinfrapb.ComponentID]float32, len(backupSpecs))
 	storePerNodeProgressLoop := func(ctx context.Context) error {
+		// track the last progress per component, periodically flushing those that
+		// have changed to info rows.
+		current, persisted := make(map[execinfrapb.ComponentID]float32), make(map[execinfrapb.ComponentID]float32)
+		lastSaved := timeutil.Now()
+
 		for {
 			select {
 			case prog, ok := <-perNodeProgressCh:
 				if !ok {
 					return nil
 				}
-				jobsprofiler.StorePerNodeProcessorProgressFraction(
-					ctx, execCtx.ExecCfg().InternalDB, job.ID(), prog)
+				for k, v := range prog {
+					current[k] = v
+				}
+				if timeutil.Since(lastSaved) > time.Second*15 {
+					lastSaved = timeutil.Now()
+					updates := make(map[execinfrapb.ComponentID]float32)
+					for k := range current {
+						if current[k] != persisted[k] {
+							persisted[k] = current[k]
+							updates[k] = current[k]
+						}
+					}
+					jobsprofiler.StorePerNodeProcessorProgressFraction(
+						ctx, execCtx.ExecCfg().InternalDB, job.ID(), updates)
+				}
 			case <-ctx.Done():
 				return ctx.Err()
 			}
@@ -285,11 +303,8 @@ func backup(
 				perComponentProgress[component] = fraction
 			}
 			select {
-			// This send to a buffered channel should never block but incase it does
-			// we will fallthrough to the default case.
 			case perNodeProgressCh <- perComponentProgress:
-			default:
-				log.Warningf(ctx, "skipping persisting per component progress as buffered channel was full")
+			default: // discard the update if the flusher is backed up.
 			}
 
 			// Check if we should persist a checkpoint backup manifest.