diff --git a/src/vlib/buffer_node.h b/src/vlib/buffer_node.h
index 93ffb1e..35e15a5 100644
--- a/src/vlib/buffer_node.h
+++ b/src/vlib/buffer_node.h
@@ -366,10 +366,15 @@
       n_enqueued = count_trailing_zeros (~bitmap) / 2;
 #else
       u16 x = 0;
-      x |= next_index ^ nexts[1];
-      x |= next_index ^ nexts[2];
-      x |= next_index ^ nexts[3];
-      n_enqueued = (x == 0) ? 4 : 1;
+      if (count + 3 < max)
+	{
+	  x |= next_index ^ nexts[1];
+	  x |= next_index ^ nexts[2];
+	  x |= next_index ^ nexts[3];
+	  n_enqueued = (x == 0) ? 4 : 1;
+	}
+      else
+	n_enqueued = 1;
 #endif
 
       if (PREDICT_FALSE (n_enqueued > max))