diff --git a/block/bfq-iosched.c b/block/bfq-iosched.c
index eb249775029e57b631241b21f942dbe4e741d8da..df840f37889dabe80176d77cacc9d36be2916e52 100644
--- a/block/bfq-iosched.c
+++ b/block/bfq-iosched.c
@@ -5649,7 +5649,49 @@ static void bfq_insert_request(struct blk_mq_hw_ctx *hctx, struct request *rq,
 
 	spin_lock_irq(&bfqd->lock);
 	bfqq = bfq_init_rq(rq);
-	if (!bfqq || at_head || blk_rq_is_passthrough(rq)) {
+
+	/*
+	 * Reqs with at_head or passthrough flags set are to be put
+	 * directly into dispatch list. Additional case for putting rq
+	 * directly into the dispatch queue: the only active
+	 * bfq_queues are bfqq and either its waker bfq_queue or one
+	 * of its woken bfq_queues. The rationale behind this
+	 * additional condition is as follows:
+	 * - consider a bfq_queue, say Q1, detected as a waker of
+	 *   another bfq_queue, say Q2
+	 * - by definition of a waker, Q1 blocks the I/O of Q2, i.e.,
+	 *   some I/O of Q1 needs to be completed for new I/O of Q2
+	 *   to arrive.  A notable example of waker is journald
+	 * - so, Q1 and Q2 are in any respect the queues of two
+	 *   cooperating processes (or of two cooperating sets of
+	 *   processes): the goal of Q1's I/O is doing what needs to
+	 *   be done so that new Q2's I/O can finally be
+	 *   issued. Therefore, if the service of Q1's I/O is delayed,
+	 *   then Q2's I/O is delayed too.  Conversely, if Q2's I/O is
+	 *   delayed, the goal of Q1's I/O is hindered.
+	 * - as a consequence, if some I/O of Q1/Q2 arrives while
+	 *   Q2/Q1 is the only queue in service, there is absolutely
+	 *   no point in delaying the service of such an I/O. The
+	 *   only possible result is a throughput loss
+	 * - so, when the above condition holds, the best option is to
+	 *   have the new I/O dispatched as soon as possible
+	 * - the most effective and efficient way to attain the above
+	 *   goal is to put the new I/O directly in the dispatch
+	 *   list
+	 * - as an additional restriction, Q1 and Q2 must be the only
+	 *   busy queues for this commit to put the I/O of Q2/Q1 in
+	 *   the dispatch list.  This is necessary, because, if also
+	 *   other queues are waiting for service, then putting new
+	 *   I/O directly in the dispatch list may evidently cause a
+	 *   violation of service guarantees for the other queues
+	 */
+	if (!bfqq ||
+	    (bfqq != bfqd->in_service_queue &&
+	     bfqd->in_service_queue != NULL &&
+	     bfq_tot_busy_queues(bfqd) == 1 + bfq_bfqq_busy(bfqq) &&
+	     (bfqq->waker_bfqq == bfqd->in_service_queue ||
+	      bfqd->in_service_queue->waker_bfqq == bfqq)) ||
+	    at_head || blk_rq_is_passthrough(rq)) {
 		if (at_head)
 			list_add(&rq->queuelist, &bfqd->dispatch);
 		else