diff --git a/module/zstd/zfs_zstd.c b/module/zstd/zfs_zstd.c
index 5c896478f..dfcd938ae 100644
--- a/module/zstd/zfs_zstd.c
+++ b/module/zstd/zfs_zstd.c
@@ -202,6 +202,34 @@ static struct zstd_fallback_mem zstd_dctx_fallback;
 static struct zstd_pool *zstd_mempool_cctx;
 static struct zstd_pool *zstd_mempool_dctx;
 
+
+static void
+zstd_mempool_reap(struct zstd_pool *zstd_mempool)
+{
+	struct zstd_pool *pool;
+
+	if (!zstd_mempool || !ZSTDSTAT(zstd_stat_buffers)) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	/* free obsolete slots */
+	for (int i = 0; i < ZSTD_POOL_MAX; i++) {
+		pool = &zstd_mempool[i];
+		if (pool->mem && mutex_tryenter(&pool->barrier)) {
+			/* Free memory if unused object older than 2 minutes */
+			if (pool->mem && gethrestime_sec() > pool->timeout) {
+				vmem_free(pool->mem, pool->size);
+				ZSTDSTAT_SUB(zstd_stat_buffers, 1);
+				ZSTDSTAT_SUB(zstd_stat_size, pool->size);
+				pool->mem = NULL;
+				pool->size = 0;
+				pool->timeout = 0;
+			}
+			mutex_exit(&pool->barrier);
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 /*
  * Try to get a cached allocated buffer from memory pool or allocate a new one
  * if necessary. If a object is older than 2 minutes and does not fit the
@@ -215,6 +243,7 @@ static struct zstd_pool *zstd_mempool_dctx;
  *
  * The scheduled release will be updated every time a object is reused.
  */
+
 static void *
 zstd_mempool_alloc(struct zstd_pool *zstd_mempool, size_t size)
 {
@@ -242,31 +271,16 @@ zstd_mempool_alloc(struct zstd_pool *zstd_mempool, size_t size)
 			 * Check if objects fits the size, if so we take it and
 			 * update the timestamp.
 			 */
-			if (size && !mem && pool->mem && size <= pool->size) {
+			if (pool->mem && size <= pool->size) {
 				pool->timeout = gethrestime_sec() +
 				    ZSTD_POOL_TIMEOUT;
 				mem = pool->mem;
-				continue;
+				return (mem);
 			}
-
-			/* Free memory if unused object older than 2 minutes */
-			if (pool->mem && gethrestime_sec() > pool->timeout) {
-				vmem_free(pool->mem, pool->size);
-				ZSTDSTAT_SUB(zstd_stat_buffers, 1);
-				ZSTDSTAT_SUB(zstd_stat_size, pool->size);
-				pool->mem = NULL;
-				pool->size = 0;
-				pool->timeout = 0;
-			}
-
 			mutex_exit(&pool->barrier);
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (!size || mem) {
-		return (mem);
-	}
-
 	/*
 	 * If no preallocated slot was found, try to fill in a new one.
 	 *
@@ -704,8 +718,8 @@ zfs_zstd_cache_reap_now(void)
 	 * calling alloc with zero size seeks
 	 * and releases old unused objects
 	 */
-	zstd_mempool_alloc(zstd_mempool_cctx, 0);
-	zstd_mempool_alloc(zstd_mempool_dctx, 0);
+	zstd_mempool_reap(zstd_mempool_cctx);
+	zstd_mempool_reap(zstd_mempool_dctx);
 }
 
 extern int __init