diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-queue-length.c b/drivers/md/dm-queue-length.c
index 23f178641794..969c4f1a3633 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-queue-length.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-queue-length.c
@@ -195,9 +195,6 @@ static struct dm_path *ql_select_path(struct path_selector *ps, size_t nr_bytes)
 	if (list_empty(&s->valid_paths))
 		goto out;
 
-	/* Change preferred (first in list) path to evenly balance. */
-	list_move_tail(s->valid_paths.next, &s->valid_paths);
-
 	list_for_each_entry(pi, &s->valid_paths, list) {
 		if (!best ||
 		    (atomic_read(&pi->qlen) < atomic_read(&best->qlen)))
@@ -210,6 +207,9 @@ static struct dm_path *ql_select_path(struct path_selector *ps, size_t nr_bytes)
 	if (!best)
 		goto out;
 
+	/* Move most recently used to least preferred to evenly balance. */
+	list_move_tail(&best->list, &s->valid_paths);
+
 	ret = best->path;
 out:
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&s->lock, flags);
diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-service-time.c b/drivers/md/dm-service-time.c
index 7b8642045c55..f006a9005593 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-service-time.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-service-time.c
@@ -282,9 +282,6 @@ static struct dm_path *st_select_path(struct path_selector *ps, size_t nr_bytes)
 	if (list_empty(&s->valid_paths))
 		goto out;
 
-	/* Change preferred (first in list) path to evenly balance. */
-	list_move_tail(s->valid_paths.next, &s->valid_paths);
-
 	list_for_each_entry(pi, &s->valid_paths, list)
 		if (!best || (st_compare_load(pi, best, nr_bytes) < 0))
 			best = pi;
@@ -292,6 +289,9 @@ static struct dm_path *st_select_path(struct path_selector *ps, size_t nr_bytes)
 	if (!best)
 		goto out;
 
+	/* Move most recently used to least preferred to evenly balance. */
+	list_move_tail(&best->list, &s->valid_paths);
+
 	ret = best->path;
 out:
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&s->lock, flags);