A method for improving I/O performance by a storage controller is provided. The method includes receiving a command completion from a storage device and checking for a command stored in a command queue for more than a predetermined time period. If a command has been in the command queue for more than the predetermined time period, then issuing the command and removing the command from the command queue. If no commands have been stored in the command queue for more than the predetermined time period, then determining if there are any uncompleted commands previously issued to the storage device. If there are not any uncompleted commands previously issued to the storage device, then processing a next command in the command queue and removing the next command from the command queue.