diff --git a/skyrl-tx/tx/tinker/engine.py b/skyrl-tx/tx/tinker/engine.py
index f1a479ee9..74cee918f 100644
--- a/skyrl-tx/tx/tinker/engine.py
+++ b/skyrl-tx/tx/tinker/engine.py
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ def _checkpoint_status_context(self, model_id: str, checkpoint_id: str, checkpoi
                 session.commit()
 
     def find_batchable_model_passes(
-        self, session: Session, request_type: types.RequestType
+        self, session: Session, request_type: types.RequestType, max_requests: int = 0
     ) -> dict[str, tuple[str, types.ForwardBackwardInput]]:
         """Find all requests of the given type that come before any destructive update for their model.
 
@@ -303,6 +303,7 @@ def find_batchable_model_passes(
         Args:
             session: Database session
             request_type: The type of request to find (e.g., FORWARD or FORWARD_BACKWARD)
+            max_requests: Maximum number of requests to return. 0 means no limit.
 
         Returns:
             Dict mapping request_id to (model_id, request_data) tuples
@@ -329,7 +330,13 @@ def find_batchable_model_passes(
         ops = session.exec(query).all()
 
         # Filter: only include ops that come before their model's barrier
-        batchable = [op for op in ops if op.model_id not in barriers or op.request_id < barriers[op.model_id]]
+        batchable = []
+        for op in ops:
+            if op.model_id in barriers and op.request_id >= barriers[op.model_id]:
+                continue
+            batchable.append(op)
+            if max_requests > 0 and len(batchable) >= max_requests:
+                break
 
         return {
             str(f.request_id): (f.model_id, types.ForwardBackwardInput.model_validate(f.request_data))
@@ -679,11 +686,12 @@ def process_pending_requests(self):
         while True:
             # Query for pending requests and extract data within session context
             with Session(self.db_engine) as session:
-                # Use look-ahead scheduling to find batchable forward_backward and forward model passes
+                # Process one request at a time to avoid large batches that cause long
+                # wait times and retrieve_future requests piling up.
                 forward_backward_requests = self.find_batchable_model_passes(
-                    session, types.RequestType.FORWARD_BACKWARD
+                    session, types.RequestType.FORWARD_BACKWARD, max_requests=1
                 )
-                forward_requests = self.find_batchable_model_passes(session, types.RequestType.FORWARD)
+                forward_requests = self.find_batchable_model_passes(session, types.RequestType.FORWARD, max_requests=1)
                 # Find pending sample requests that can be batched
                 sample_requests = self.find_batchable_sample(session)
                 # Get other pending requests (non forward_backward and non sampling)