diff --git a/src/update_store.rs b/src/update_store.rs
index c480d7766..9ffa2a7bc 100644
--- a/src/update_store.rs
+++ b/src/update_store.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 use std::path::Path;
 use std::sync::Arc;
-use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicU64, Ordering};
 
 use crossbeam_channel::Sender;
 use heed::types::{OwnedType, DecodeIgnore, SerdeJson, ByteSlice};
@@ -17,7 +16,6 @@ pub struct UpdateStore<M, N> {
     processed_meta: Database<OwnedType<BEU64>, SerdeJson<N>>,
     aborted_meta: Database<OwnedType<BEU64>, SerdeJson<M>>,
     notification_sender: Sender<()>,
-    processing_update_id: Arc<AtomicU64>,
 }
 
 impl<M: 'static, N: 'static> UpdateStore<M, N> {
@@ -50,7 +48,6 @@ impl<M: 'static, N: 'static> UpdateStore<M, N> {
             processed_meta,
             aborted_meta,
             notification_sender,
-            processing_update_id: Arc::new(AtomicU64::new(u64::MAX)),
         });
 
         let update_store_cloned = update_store.clone();
@@ -147,10 +144,7 @@ impl<M: 'static, N: 'static> UpdateStore<M, N> {
                     .expect("associated update content");
 
                 // Process the pending update using the provided user function.
-                self.processing_update_id.store(first_id.get(), Ordering::Relaxed);
-                let result = (f)(first_id.get(), first_meta, first_content);
-                self.processing_update_id.store(u64::MAX, Ordering::Relaxed);
-                let new_meta = result?;
+                let new_meta = (f)(first_id.get(), first_meta, first_content)?;
                 drop(rtxn);
 
                 // Once the pending update have been successfully processed
@@ -168,12 +162,15 @@ impl<M: 'static, N: 'static> UpdateStore<M, N> {
         }
     }
 
-    /// The id of the update tha is currently being processed,
+    /// The id and metadata of the update that is currently being processed,
     /// `None` if no update is being processed.
-    pub fn processing_update_id(&self) -> Option<u64> {
-        match self.processing_update_id.load(Ordering::Relaxed) {
-            u64::MAX => None,
-            update_id => Some(update_id),
+    pub fn processing_update(&self) -> heed::Result<Option<(u64, M)>>
+    where M: for<'a> Deserialize<'a>,
+    {
+        let rtxn = self.env.read_txn()?;
+        match self.pending_meta.first(&rtxn)? {
+            Some((key, meta)) => Ok(Some((key.get(), meta))),
+            None => Ok(None),
         }
     }