diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# consumers-2.2.0.6 (2021-10-22)
+* Improve efficiency of the SQL query that reserves jobs.
+
 # consumers-2.2.0.5 (2021-10-12)
 * Adjust to changes in log-base-0.11.
 
diff --git a/consumers.cabal b/consumers.cabal
--- a/consumers.cabal
+++ b/consumers.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:               consumers
-version:            2.2.0.5
+version:            2.2.0.6
 synopsis:           Concurrent PostgreSQL data consumers
 
 description:        Library for setting up concurrent consumers of data
diff --git a/src/Database/PostgreSQL/Consumers/Components.hs b/src/Database/PostgreSQL/Consumers/Components.hs
--- a/src/Database/PostgreSQL/Consumers/Components.hs
+++ b/src/Database/PostgreSQL/Consumers/Components.hs
@@ -304,6 +304,7 @@
           , "       AND reserved_by IS NULL"
           , "       AND run_at IS NOT NULL"
           , "       AND run_at <= " <?> now
+          , "       ORDER BY run_at"
           , "LIMIT" <?> limit
             -- Use SKIP LOCKED if available. Otherwise utilise
             -- advisory locks.