diff --git a/drivers/md/raid10.c b/drivers/md/raid10.c
index 867f06ae33d944e8ef7178d28fc3fa8905d963b3..713dc9c2c73093a67348e473f2bfc47f888d6e3c 100644
--- a/drivers/md/raid10.c
+++ b/drivers/md/raid10.c
@@ -552,7 +552,11 @@ static int read_balance(conf_t *conf, r10bio_t *r10_bio)
 		    !test_bit(In_sync, &rdev->flags))
 			continue;
 
-		if (!atomic_read(&rdev->nr_pending)) {
+		/* This optimisation is debatable, and completely destroys
+		 * sequential read speed for 'far copies' arrays.  So only
+		 * keep it for 'near' arrays, and review those later.
+		 */
+		if (conf->near_copies > 1 && !atomic_read(&rdev->nr_pending)) {
 			disk = ndisk;
 			slot = nslot;
 			break;