diff --git a/block/deadline-iosched.c b/block/deadline-iosched.c
index a44437e5a94b..cb94c838087a 100644
--- a/block/deadline-iosched.c
+++ b/block/deadline-iosched.c
@@ -306,12 +306,11 @@ dispatch_writes:
 dispatch_find_request:
 	/*
 	 * we are not running a batch, find best request for selected data_dir
+	 * and start a new batch
 	 */
 	if (deadline_check_fifo(dd, data_dir)) {
 		/* An expired request exists - satisfy it */
-		dd->batching = 0;
 		rq = rq_entry_fifo(dd->fifo_list[data_dir].next);
-		
 	} else if (dd->next_rq[data_dir]) {
 		/*
 		 * The last req was the same dir and we have a next request in
@@ -325,12 +324,13 @@ dispatch_find_request:
 		 * higher-sectored requests. Go back to the lowest sectored
 		 * request (1 way elevator) and start a new batch.
 		 */
-		dd->batching = 0;
 		node = rb_first(&dd->sort_list[data_dir]);
 		if (node)
 			rq = rb_entry_rq(node);
 	}
 
+	dd->batching = 0;
+
 dispatch_request:
 	/*
 	 * rq is the selected appropriate request.