diff --git a/blockstore_impl.cpp b/blockstore_impl.cpp
index afa032ffd..faf3cb3cb 100644
--- a/blockstore_impl.cpp
+++ b/blockstore_impl.cpp
@@ -125,6 +125,12 @@ void blockstore_impl_t::loop()
             if (PRIV(op)->wait_for)
             {
                 check_wait(op);
+#ifdef BLOCKSTORE_DEBUG
+                if (PRIV(op)->wait_for)
+                {
+                    printf("still waiting for %d\n", PRIV(op)->wait_for);
+                }
+#endif
                 if (PRIV(op)->wait_for == WAIT_SQE)
                 {
                     break;
@@ -270,7 +276,9 @@ void blockstore_impl_t::check_wait(blockstore_op_t *op)
     }
     else if (PRIV(op)->wait_for == WAIT_JOURNAL_BUFFER)
     {
-        if (journal.sector_info[((journal.cur_sector + 1) % journal.sector_count)].usage_count > 0)
+        int next = ((journal.cur_sector + 1) % journal.sector_count);
+        if (journal.sector_info[next].usage_count > 0 ||
+            journal.sector_info[next].dirty)
         {
             // do not submit
             return;
diff --git a/blockstore_impl.h b/blockstore_impl.h
index a9072e17d..cf84963e7 100644
--- a/blockstore_impl.h
+++ b/blockstore_impl.h
@@ -256,6 +256,8 @@ class blockstore_impl_t
     void enqueue_write(blockstore_op_t *op);
     int dequeue_write(blockstore_op_t *op);
     int dequeue_del(blockstore_op_t *op);
+    void ack_write(blockstore_op_t *op);
+    void release_journal_sectors(blockstore_op_t *op);
     void handle_write_event(ring_data_t *data, blockstore_op_t *op);
 
     // Sync
diff --git a/blockstore_journal.cpp b/blockstore_journal.cpp
index 745301df5..fe434118a 100644
--- a/blockstore_journal.cpp
+++ b/blockstore_journal.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,11 @@ int blockstore_journal_check_t::check_available(blockstore_op_t *op, int require
             next_in_pos += fits * size;
             sectors_required++;
         }
+        else if (bs->journal.sector_info[next_sector].dirty)
+        {
+            // sectors_required is more like "sectors to write"
+            sectors_required++;
+        }
         if (required <= 0)
         {
             break;
@@ -33,13 +38,19 @@ int blockstore_journal_check_t::check_available(blockstore_op_t *op, int require
             right_dir = false;
         }
         next_in_pos = 0;
-        if (bs->journal.sector_info[next_sector].usage_count > 0)
+        if (bs->journal.sector_info[next_sector].usage_count > 0 ||
+            bs->journal.sector_info[next_sector].dirty)
         {
             next_sector = ((next_sector + 1) % bs->journal.sector_count);
         }
-        if (bs->journal.sector_info[next_sector].usage_count > 0)
+        if (bs->journal.sector_info[next_sector].usage_count > 0 ||
+            bs->journal.sector_info[next_sector].dirty)
         {
             // No memory buffer available. Wait for it.
+#ifdef BLOCKSTORE_DEBUG
+            printf("next journal buffer %d is still dirty=%d used=%d\n", next_sector,
+                bs->journal.sector_info[next_sector].dirty, bs->journal.sector_info[next_sector].usage_count);
+#endif
             PRIV(op)->wait_for = WAIT_JOURNAL_BUFFER;
             return 0;
         }
@@ -68,6 +79,7 @@ journal_entry* prefill_single_journal_entry(journal_t & journal, uint16_t type,
 {
     if (JOURNAL_BLOCK_SIZE - journal.in_sector_pos < size)
     {
+        assert(!journal.sector_info[journal.cur_sector].dirty);
         // Move to the next journal sector
         if (journal.sector_info[journal.cur_sector].usage_count > 0)
         {
@@ -91,22 +103,24 @@ journal_entry* prefill_single_journal_entry(journal_t & journal, uint16_t type,
     je->type = type;
     je->size = size;
     je->crc32_prev = journal.crc32_last;
+    journal.sector_info[journal.cur_sector].dirty = true;
     return je;
 }
 
-void prepare_journal_sector_write(journal_t & journal, io_uring_sqe *sqe, std::function<void(ring_data_t*)> cb)
+void prepare_journal_sector_write(journal_t & journal, int cur_sector, io_uring_sqe *sqe, std::function<void(ring_data_t*)> cb)
 {
-    journal.sector_info[journal.cur_sector].usage_count++;
+    journal.sector_info[cur_sector].dirty = false;
+    journal.sector_info[cur_sector].usage_count++;
     ring_data_t *data = ((ring_data_t*)sqe->user_data);
     data->iov = (struct iovec){
         (journal.inmemory
-            ? journal.buffer + journal.sector_info[journal.cur_sector].offset
-            : journal.sector_buf + JOURNAL_BLOCK_SIZE*journal.cur_sector),
+            ? journal.buffer + journal.sector_info[cur_sector].offset
+            : journal.sector_buf + JOURNAL_BLOCK_SIZE*cur_sector),
         JOURNAL_BLOCK_SIZE
     };
     data->callback = cb;
     my_uring_prep_writev(
-        sqe, journal.fd, &data->iov, 1, journal.offset + journal.sector_info[journal.cur_sector].offset
+        sqe, journal.fd, &data->iov, 1, journal.offset + journal.sector_info[cur_sector].offset
     );
 }
 
diff --git a/blockstore_journal.h b/blockstore_journal.h
index 2e6ea7f2d..87c6c9a52 100644
--- a/blockstore_journal.h
+++ b/blockstore_journal.h
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ struct journal_sector_info_t
 {
     uint64_t offset;
     uint64_t usage_count;
+    bool dirty;
 };
 
 struct journal_t
@@ -154,4 +155,4 @@ struct blockstore_journal_check_t
 
 journal_entry* prefill_single_journal_entry(journal_t & journal, uint16_t type, uint32_t size);
 
-void prepare_journal_sector_write(journal_t & journal, io_uring_sqe *sqe, std::function<void(ring_data_t*)> cb);
+void prepare_journal_sector_write(journal_t & journal, int sector, io_uring_sqe *sqe, std::function<void(ring_data_t*)> cb);
diff --git a/blockstore_stable.cpp b/blockstore_stable.cpp
index 7942801b4..cdff4de85 100644
--- a/blockstore_stable.cpp
+++ b/blockstore_stable.cpp
@@ -94,6 +94,14 @@ int blockstore_impl_t::dequeue_stable(blockstore_op_t *op)
     // Prepare and submit journal entries
     auto cb = [this, op](ring_data_t *data) { handle_stable_event(data, op); };
     int s = 0, cur_sector = -1;
+    if ((JOURNAL_BLOCK_SIZE - journal.in_sector_pos) < sizeof(journal_entry_stable) &&
+        journal.sector_info[journal.cur_sector].dirty)
+    {
+        if (cur_sector == -1)
+            PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector = 1 + journal.cur_sector;
+        cur_sector = journal.cur_sector;
+        prepare_journal_sector_write(journal, cur_sector, sqe[s++], cb);
+    }
     for (i = 0, v = (obj_ver_id*)op->buf; i < op->len; i++, v++)
     {
         auto unstab_it = unstable_writes.find(v->oid);
@@ -104,6 +112,7 @@ int blockstore_impl_t::dequeue_stable(blockstore_op_t *op)
         }
         journal_entry_stable *je = (journal_entry_stable*)
             prefill_single_journal_entry(journal, JE_STABLE, sizeof(journal_entry_stable));
+        journal.sector_info[journal.cur_sector].dirty = false;
         je->oid = v->oid;
         je->version = v->version;
         je->crc32 = je_crc32((journal_entry*)je);
@@ -113,7 +122,7 @@ int blockstore_impl_t::dequeue_stable(blockstore_op_t *op)
             if (cur_sector == -1)
                 PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector = 1 + journal.cur_sector;
             cur_sector = journal.cur_sector;
-            prepare_journal_sector_write(journal, sqe[s++], cb);
+            prepare_journal_sector_write(journal, cur_sector, sqe[s++], cb);
         }
     }
     PRIV(op)->max_used_journal_sector = 1 + journal.cur_sector;
@@ -135,18 +144,7 @@ void blockstore_impl_t::handle_stable_event(ring_data_t *data, blockstore_op_t *
     if (PRIV(op)->pending_ops == 0)
     {
         // Release used journal sectors
-        if (PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector > 0)
-        {
-            uint64_t s = PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector;
-            while (1)
-            {
-                journal.sector_info[s-1].usage_count--;
-                if (s == PRIV(op)->max_used_journal_sector)
-                    break;
-                s = 1 + s % journal.sector_count;
-            }
-            PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector = PRIV(op)->max_used_journal_sector = 0;
-        }
+        release_journal_sectors(op);
         // First step: mark dirty_db entries as stable, acknowledge op completion
         obj_ver_id* v;
         int i;
diff --git a/blockstore_sync.cpp b/blockstore_sync.cpp
index f56bbc2cd..dc8adf3d7 100644
--- a/blockstore_sync.cpp
+++ b/blockstore_sync.cpp
@@ -39,14 +39,36 @@ int blockstore_impl_t::continue_sync(blockstore_op_t *op)
     if (PRIV(op)->sync_state == SYNC_HAS_SMALL)
     {
         // No big writes, just fsync the journal
-        if (!disable_fsync)
+        int n_sqes = disable_fsync ? 0 : 1;
+        if (journal.sector_info[journal.cur_sector].dirty)
         {
-            BS_SUBMIT_GET_SQE(sqe, data);
-            my_uring_prep_fsync(sqe, journal.fd, IORING_FSYNC_DATASYNC);
-            data->iov = { 0 };
-            data->callback = cb;
-            PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector = PRIV(op)->max_used_journal_sector = 0;
-            PRIV(op)->pending_ops = 1;
+            n_sqes++;
+        }
+        if (n_sqes > 0)
+        {
+            io_uring_sqe* sqes[n_sqes];
+            for (int i = 0; i < n_sqes; i++)
+            {
+                BS_SUBMIT_GET_SQE_DECL(sqes[i]);
+            }
+            int s = 0;
+            if (journal.sector_info[journal.cur_sector].dirty)
+            {
+                prepare_journal_sector_write(journal, journal.cur_sector, sqes[s++], cb);
+                PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector = PRIV(op)->max_used_journal_sector = 1 + journal.cur_sector;
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector = PRIV(op)->max_used_journal_sector = 0;
+            }
+            if (!disable_fsync)
+            {
+                ring_data_t *data = ((ring_data_t*)sqes[s]->user_data);
+                my_uring_prep_fsync(sqes[s++], journal.fd, IORING_FSYNC_DATASYNC);
+                data->iov = { 0 };
+                data->callback = cb;
+            }
+            PRIV(op)->pending_ops = s;
             PRIV(op)->sync_state = SYNC_JOURNAL_SYNC_SENT;
         }
         else
@@ -90,11 +112,20 @@ int blockstore_impl_t::continue_sync(blockstore_op_t *op)
         // Prepare and submit journal entries
         auto it = PRIV(op)->sync_big_writes.begin();
         int s = 0, cur_sector = -1;
+        if ((JOURNAL_BLOCK_SIZE - journal.in_sector_pos) < sizeof(journal_entry_big_write) &&
+            journal.sector_info[journal.cur_sector].dirty)
+        {
+            if (cur_sector == -1)
+                PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector = 1 + journal.cur_sector;
+            cur_sector = journal.cur_sector;
+            prepare_journal_sector_write(journal, cur_sector, sqe[s++], cb);
+        }
         while (it != PRIV(op)->sync_big_writes.end())
         {
             journal_entry_big_write *je = (journal_entry_big_write*)
                 prefill_single_journal_entry(journal, JE_BIG_WRITE, sizeof(journal_entry_big_write));
             dirty_db[*it].journal_sector = journal.sector_info[journal.cur_sector].offset;
+            journal.sector_info[journal.cur_sector].dirty = false;
             journal.used_sectors[journal.sector_info[journal.cur_sector].offset]++;
 #ifdef BLOCKSTORE_DEBUG
             printf("journal offset %lu is used by %lu:%lu v%lu\n", dirty_db[*it].journal_sector, it->oid.inode, it->oid.stripe, it->version);
@@ -112,7 +143,7 @@ int blockstore_impl_t::continue_sync(blockstore_op_t *op)
                 if (cur_sector == -1)
                     PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector = 1 + journal.cur_sector;
                 cur_sector = journal.cur_sector;
-                prepare_journal_sector_write(journal, sqe[s++], cb);
+                prepare_journal_sector_write(journal, cur_sector, sqe[s++], cb);
             }
         }
         PRIV(op)->max_used_journal_sector = 1 + journal.cur_sector;
@@ -147,18 +178,7 @@ void blockstore_impl_t::handle_sync_event(ring_data_t *data, blockstore_op_t *op
     if (PRIV(op)->pending_ops == 0)
     {
         // Release used journal sectors
-        if (PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector > 0)
-        {
-            uint64_t s = PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector;
-            while (1)
-            {
-                journal.sector_info[s-1].usage_count--;
-                if (s == PRIV(op)->max_used_journal_sector)
-                    break;
-                s = 1 + s % journal.sector_count;
-            }
-            PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector = PRIV(op)->max_used_journal_sector = 0;
-        }
+        release_journal_sectors(op);
         // Handle states
         if (PRIV(op)->sync_state == SYNC_DATA_SYNC_SENT)
         {
diff --git a/blockstore_write.cpp b/blockstore_write.cpp
index 8a84bdd1f..7a70bd6d1 100644
--- a/blockstore_write.cpp
+++ b/blockstore_write.cpp
@@ -137,7 +137,6 @@ int blockstore_impl_t::dequeue_write(blockstore_op_t *op)
     {
         // Small (journaled) write
         // First check if the journal has sufficient space
-        // FIXME Always two SQEs for now. Although it's possible to send 1 sometimes
         blockstore_journal_check_t space_check(this);
         if (unsynced_big_writes.size() && !space_check.check_available(op, unsynced_big_writes.size(), sizeof(journal_entry_big_write), 0)
             || !space_check.check_available(op, 1, sizeof(journal_entry_small_write), op->len + JOURNAL_STABILIZE_RESERVATION))
@@ -145,18 +144,34 @@ int blockstore_impl_t::dequeue_write(blockstore_op_t *op)
             return 0;
         }
         // There is sufficient space. Get SQE(s)
-        BS_SUBMIT_GET_ONLY_SQE(sqe1);
+        struct io_uring_sqe *sqe1 = NULL;
+        if ((JOURNAL_BLOCK_SIZE - journal.in_sector_pos) < sizeof(journal_entry_small_write) &&
+            journal.sector_info[journal.cur_sector].dirty)
+        {
+            // Write current journal sector only if it's dirty and full
+            BS_SUBMIT_GET_SQE_DECL(sqe1);
+        }
         struct io_uring_sqe *sqe2 = NULL;
-        struct ring_data_t *data2 = NULL;
         if (op->len > 0)
         {
             BS_SUBMIT_GET_SQE_DECL(sqe2);
-            data2 = ((ring_data_t*)sqe2->user_data);
         }
-        // FIXME: Write journal sector here only if it is full. Otherwise, defer it until SYNC. This will help reduce WA
-        // Got SQEs. Prepare journal sector write
+        // Got SQEs. Prepare previous journal sector write if required
+        auto cb = [this, op](ring_data_t *data) { handle_write_event(data, op); };
+        if (sqe1)
+        {
+            prepare_journal_sector_write(journal, journal.cur_sector, sqe1, cb);
+            // FIXME rename to min/max _flushing
+            PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector = PRIV(op)->max_used_journal_sector = 1 + journal.cur_sector;
+            PRIV(op)->pending_ops++;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector = PRIV(op)->max_used_journal_sector = 0;
+        }
+        // Then pre-fill journal entry
         journal_entry_small_write *je = (journal_entry_small_write*)
-            prefill_single_journal_entry(journal, JE_SMALL_WRITE, sizeof(struct journal_entry_small_write));
+            prefill_single_journal_entry(journal, JE_SMALL_WRITE, sizeof(journal_entry_small_write));
         dirty_it->second.journal_sector = journal.sector_info[journal.cur_sector].offset;
         journal.used_sectors[journal.sector_info[journal.cur_sector].offset]++;
 #ifdef BLOCKSTORE_DEBUG
@@ -172,9 +187,6 @@ int blockstore_impl_t::dequeue_write(blockstore_op_t *op)
         je->crc32_data = crc32c(0, op->buf, op->len);
         je->crc32 = je_crc32((journal_entry*)je);
         journal.crc32_last = je->crc32;
-        auto cb = [this, op](ring_data_t *data) { handle_write_event(data, op); };
-        prepare_journal_sector_write(journal, sqe1, cb);
-        PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector = PRIV(op)->max_used_journal_sector = 1 + journal.cur_sector;
         if (op->len > 0)
         {
             // Prepare journal data write
@@ -183,28 +195,34 @@ int blockstore_impl_t::dequeue_write(blockstore_op_t *op)
                 // Copy data
                 memcpy(journal.buffer + journal.next_free, op->buf, op->len);
             }
+            ring_data_t *data2 = ((ring_data_t*)sqe2->user_data);
             data2->iov = (struct iovec){ op->buf, op->len };
             data2->callback = cb;
             my_uring_prep_writev(
                 sqe2, journal.fd, &data2->iov, 1, journal.offset + journal.next_free
             );
-            PRIV(op)->pending_ops = 2;
+            PRIV(op)->pending_ops++;
         }
         else
         {
             // Zero-length overwrite. Allowed to bump object version in EC placement groups without actually writing data
-            PRIV(op)->pending_ops = 1;
         }
         dirty_it->second.location = journal.next_free;
         dirty_it->second.state = ST_J_SUBMITTED;
         journal.next_free += op->len;
         if (journal.next_free >= journal.len)
+        {
             journal.next_free = JOURNAL_BLOCK_SIZE;
+        }
         // Remember small write as unsynced
         unsynced_small_writes.push_back((obj_ver_id){
             .oid = op->oid,
             .version = op->version,
         });
+        if (!PRIV(op)->pending_ops)
+        {
+            ack_write(op);
+        }
     }
     return 1;
 }
@@ -223,45 +241,56 @@ void blockstore_impl_t::handle_write_event(ring_data_t *data, blockstore_op_t *o
     PRIV(op)->pending_ops--;
     if (PRIV(op)->pending_ops == 0)
     {
-        // Release used journal sectors
-        if (PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector > 0)
-        {
-            uint64_t s = PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector;
-            while (1)
-            {
-                journal.sector_info[s-1].usage_count--;
-                if (s == PRIV(op)->max_used_journal_sector)
-                    break;
-                s = 1 + s % journal.sector_count;
-            }
-            PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector = PRIV(op)->max_used_journal_sector = 0;
-        }
-        // Switch object state
-        auto & dirty_entry = dirty_db[(obj_ver_id){
-            .oid = op->oid,
-            .version = op->version,
-        }];
-#ifdef BLOCKSTORE_DEBUG
-        printf("Ack write %lu:%lu v%lu = %d\n", op->oid.inode, op->oid.stripe, op->version, dirty_entry.state);
-#endif
-        if (dirty_entry.state == ST_J_SUBMITTED)
-        {
-            dirty_entry.state = ST_J_WRITTEN;
-        }
-        else if (dirty_entry.state == ST_D_SUBMITTED)
-        {
-            dirty_entry.state = ST_D_WRITTEN;
-        }
-        else if (dirty_entry.state == ST_DEL_SUBMITTED)
-        {
-            dirty_entry.state = ST_DEL_WRITTEN;
-        }
-        // Acknowledge write without sync
-        op->retval = op->len;
-        FINISH_OP(op);
+        release_journal_sectors(op);
+        ack_write(op);
     }
 }
 
+void blockstore_impl_t::release_journal_sectors(blockstore_op_t *op)
+{
+    // Release used journal sectors
+    if (PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector > 0 &&
+        PRIV(op)->max_used_journal_sector > 0)
+    {
+        uint64_t s = PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector;
+        while (1)
+        {
+            journal.sector_info[s-1].usage_count--;
+            if (s == PRIV(op)->max_used_journal_sector)
+                break;
+            s = 1 + s % journal.sector_count;
+        }
+        PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector = PRIV(op)->max_used_journal_sector = 0;
+    }
+}
+
+void blockstore_impl_t::ack_write(blockstore_op_t *op)
+{
+    // Switch object state
+    auto & dirty_entry = dirty_db[(obj_ver_id){
+        .oid = op->oid,
+        .version = op->version,
+    }];
+#ifdef BLOCKSTORE_DEBUG
+    printf("Ack write %lu:%lu v%lu = %d\n", op->oid.inode, op->oid.stripe, op->version, dirty_entry.state);
+#endif
+    if (dirty_entry.state == ST_J_SUBMITTED)
+    {
+        dirty_entry.state = ST_J_WRITTEN;
+    }
+    else if (dirty_entry.state == ST_D_SUBMITTED)
+    {
+        dirty_entry.state = ST_D_WRITTEN;
+    }
+    else if (dirty_entry.state == ST_DEL_SUBMITTED)
+    {
+        dirty_entry.state = ST_DEL_WRITTEN;
+    }
+    // Acknowledge write without sync
+    op->retval = op->len;
+    FINISH_OP(op);
+}
+
 int blockstore_impl_t::dequeue_del(blockstore_op_t *op)
 {
     auto dirty_it = dirty_db.find((obj_ver_id){
@@ -287,7 +316,7 @@ int blockstore_impl_t::dequeue_del(blockstore_op_t *op)
     je->crc32 = je_crc32((journal_entry*)je);
     journal.crc32_last = je->crc32;
     auto cb = [this, op](ring_data_t *data) { handle_write_event(data, op); };
-    prepare_journal_sector_write(journal, sqe, cb);
+    prepare_journal_sector_write(journal, journal.cur_sector, sqe, cb);
     PRIV(op)->min_used_journal_sector = PRIV(op)->max_used_journal_sector = 1 + journal.cur_sector;
     PRIV(op)->pending_ops = 1;
     dirty_it->second.state = ST_DEL_SUBMITTED;