A memory controller may calculate a sum of a first number of entries stored in a read buffer and a second number of entries stored in a write buffer. If the sum is less than a first threshold and the read/write buffer is not full of entries, then the memory controller can request read/write commands from a host computing device. If the sum is not less than the first threshold or the read/write buffer is full of entries, then the memory controller can assert backpressure to stop the incoming flow newly incoming read/write commands from the host computing device. Additionally, or alternatively, the memory controller may dequeue a write command entry only if a number of write command entries stored in a write command FIFO memory is greater than a second threshold. The memory controller may dequeue read command stored in a read FIFO memory if the number of write command entries stored in the write command FIFO memory is less than or equal to the second threshold and the read FIFO memory is not empty of the read command entries.