diff --git a/artiq/firmware/runtime/session.rs b/artiq/firmware/runtime/session.rs
index 197ac00fc..5a3e30020 100644
--- a/artiq/firmware/runtime/session.rs
+++ b/artiq/firmware/runtime/session.rs
@@ -519,16 +519,16 @@ fn host_kernel_worker(io: &Io,
     let mut session = Session::new(congress);
 
     loop {
-        while !rpc_queue::empty() {
-            process_kern_queued_rpc(stream, &mut session)?
-        }
-
         if stream.can_recv() {
             process_host_message(io, stream, &mut session)?
         } else if !stream.may_recv() {
             return Ok(())
         }
 
+        while !rpc_queue::empty() {
+            process_kern_queued_rpc(stream, &mut session)?
+        }
+
         if mailbox::receive() != 0 {
             process_kern_message(io, Some(stream), &mut session)?;
         }