diff --git a/lib/sbitmap.c b/lib/sbitmap.c
index eca462c..bea7984 100644
--- a/lib/sbitmap.c
+++ b/lib/sbitmap.c
@@ -571,13 +571,19 @@ static struct sbq_wait_state *sbq_wake_ptr(struct sbitmap_queue *sbq)
 	for (i = 0; i < SBQ_WAIT_QUEUES; i++) {
 		struct sbq_wait_state *ws = &sbq->ws[wake_index];
 
+		/*
+		 * Advance the index before checking the current queue.
+		 * It improves fairness, by ensuring the queue doesn't
+		 * need to be fully emptied before trying to wake up
+		 * from the next one.
+		 */
+		wake_index = sbq_index_inc(wake_index);
+
 		if (waitqueue_active(&ws->wait)) {
 			if (wake_index != atomic_read(&sbq->wake_index))
 				atomic_set(&sbq->wake_index, wake_index);
 			return ws;
 		}
-
-		wake_index = sbq_index_inc(wake_index);
 	}
 
 	return NULL;