diff --git a/src/ioprio.cpp b/src/ioprio.cpp
index 0e3abe13..3ed1ba1a 100644
--- a/src/ioprio.cpp
+++ b/src/ioprio.cpp
@@ -32,8 +32,12 @@ enum
     IOPRIO_WHO_PROCESS = 1
   };
 
+namespace ioprio
+{
+  std::atomic<bool> _enabled{false};
+}
+
 thread_local int ioprio::SetFrom::thread_prio = -1;
-bool _enabled = false;
 
 int
 ioprio::get(const int who_)
@@ -69,22 +73,14 @@ ioprio::set(const int who_,
 void
 ioprio::enable(const bool enable_)
 {
-  _enabled = enable_;
+  _enabled.store(enable_,std::memory_order_relaxed);
 }
 
-bool
-ioprio::enabled()
-{
-  return _enabled;
-}
-
-ioprio::SetFrom::SetFrom(const pid_t pid_)
+void
+ioprio::SetFrom::_slow_apply(const pid_t pid_)
 {
   int client_prio;
 
-  if(!_enabled)
-    return;
-
   client_prio = ioprio::get(pid_);
   if(client_prio < 0)
     return;
diff --git a/src/ioprio.hpp b/src/ioprio.hpp
index acdc455d..1f272a4f 100644
--- a/src/ioprio.hpp
+++ b/src/ioprio.hpp
@@ -18,13 +18,27 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
+#include <atomic>
+
 #include <sys/types.h>
 
 
 namespace ioprio
 {
+  // Exposed so the disabled-path check in SetFrom can inline into
+  // every fuse_read/fuse_write as an atomic load + branch, with no
+  // function overhead.
+  extern std::atomic<bool> _enabled;
+
+  [[gnu::always_inline]]
+  inline
+  bool
+  enabled()
+  {
+    return _enabled.load(std::memory_order_relaxed);
+  }
+
   void enable(const bool);
-  bool enabled();
 
   int get(const int who);
   int set(const int who, const int ioprio);
@@ -33,6 +47,15 @@ namespace ioprio
   {
     static thread_local int thread_prio;
 
-    SetFrom(const pid_t pid);
+    [[gnu::always_inline]]
+    inline
+    SetFrom(const pid_t pid_)
+    {
+      if(ioprio::enabled())
+        _slow_apply(pid_);
+    }
+
+  private:
+    void _slow_apply(const pid_t);
   };
 };