diff --git a/internal/api/api.go b/internal/api/api.go
index 87eb8834..46d7c750 100644
--- a/internal/api/api.go
+++ b/internal/api/api.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/resonatehq/resonate/internal/kernel/bus"
 	"github.com/resonatehq/resonate/internal/kernel/t_api"
 	"github.com/resonatehq/resonate/internal/metrics"
+	"github.com/resonatehq/resonate/internal/util"
 )
 
 type API interface {
@@ -132,23 +133,35 @@ func (a *api) Enqueue(sqe *bus.SQE[t_api.Request, t_api.Response]) {
 }
 
 func (a *api) Dequeue(n int, timeoutCh <-chan time.Time) []*bus.SQE[t_api.Request, t_api.Response] {
+	util.Assert(n > 0, "submission batch size must be greater than 0")
 	sqes := []*bus.SQE[t_api.Request, t_api.Response]{}
 
 	if timeoutCh != nil {
-		// collects n entries or until a timeout occurs,
+		// collects n entries (if immediately available) or until a timeout occurs,
 		// whichever happens first
-		for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
-			select {
-			case sqe, ok := <-a.sq:
-				if !ok {
+		select {
+		case sqe, ok := <-a.sq:
+			if !ok {
+				return sqes
+			}
+			slog.Debug("api:dequeue", "sqe", sqe)
+			sqes = append(sqes, sqe)
+
+			for i := 0; i < n-1; i++ {
+				select {
+				case sqe, ok := <-a.sq:
+					if !ok {
+						return sqes
+					}
+					slog.Debug("api:dequeue", "sqe", sqe)
+					sqes = append(sqes, sqe)
+				default:
 					return sqes
 				}
-
-				slog.Debug("api:dequeue", "sqe", sqe)
-				sqes = append(sqes, sqe)
-			case <-timeoutCh:
-				return sqes
 			}
+			return sqes
+		case <-timeoutCh:
+			return sqes
 		}
 	} else {
 		// collects n entries or until the channel is