diff --git a/block/elevator.c b/block/elevator.c
index d0376239914..25f6ef28e3b 100644
--- a/block/elevator.c
+++ b/block/elevator.c
@@ -413,6 +413,8 @@ void elv_dispatch_sort(request_queue_t *q, struct request *rq)
 	list_for_each_prev(entry, &q->queue_head) {
 		struct request *pos = list_entry_rq(entry);
 
+		if (rq_data_dir(rq) != rq_data_dir(pos))
+			break;
 		if (pos->cmd_flags & (REQ_SOFTBARRIER|REQ_HARDBARRIER|REQ_STARTED))
 			break;
 		if (rq->sector >= boundary) {