diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-crypt.c b/drivers/md/dm-crypt.c
index 5972b0662b7a..59c8dbe0b975 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-crypt.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-crypt.c
@@ -1639,6 +1639,7 @@ static int crypt_ctr(struct dm_target *ti, unsigned int argc, char **argv)
 
 	ret = -ENOMEM;
 	cc->io_queue = alloc_workqueue("kcryptd_io",
+				       WQ_HIGHPRI |
 				       WQ_NON_REENTRANT|
 				       WQ_MEM_RECLAIM,
 				       1);
@@ -1648,7 +1649,8 @@ static int crypt_ctr(struct dm_target *ti, unsigned int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 
 	cc->crypt_queue = alloc_workqueue("kcryptd",
-					  WQ_CPU_INTENSIVE | WQ_MEM_RECLAIM |
+					  WQ_HIGHPRI |
+					  WQ_MEM_RECLAIM |
 					  WQ_UNBOUND, num_online_cpus());
 	if (!cc->crypt_queue) {
 		ti->error = "Couldn't create kcryptd queue";