A method includes allocating a first single-cycle instruction to a first pipeline that picks single-cycle instructions for execution in program order. The method further includes marking at least one source register of the first single-cycle instruction as ready for execution in the first pipeline in response to all older single-cycle instructions allocated to the first pipeline being ready and eligible to be picked for execution. An apparatus includes a decoder to decode a first single-cycle instruction and to allocate the first single-cycle instruction to a first pipeline. The apparatus further includes a scheduler to pick single-cycle instructions for execution by the first pipeline in program order and to mark at least one source register of the first single-cycle instruction as ready for execution in the first pipeline in response to determining that all older single-cycle instructions allocated to the first pipeline are ready and eligible.