diff --git a/net/sunrpc/sched.c b/net/sunrpc/sched.c
index d20f2329eea3..4f65ec28d2b4 100644
--- a/net/sunrpc/sched.c
+++ b/net/sunrpc/sched.c
@@ -1069,7 +1069,8 @@ static int rpciod_start(void)
 	 * Create the rpciod thread and wait for it to start.
 	 */
 	dprintk("RPC:       creating workqueue rpciod\n");
-	wq = alloc_workqueue("rpciod", WQ_MEM_RECLAIM, 1);
+	/* Note: highpri because network receive is latency sensitive */
+	wq = alloc_workqueue("rpciod", WQ_MEM_RECLAIM | WQ_HIGHPRI, 0);
 	rpciod_workqueue = wq;
 	return rpciod_workqueue != NULL;
 }