diff --git a/perf/reader.go b/perf/reader.go
index 3c82070..6ff9213 100644
--- a/perf/reader.go
+++ b/perf/reader.go
@@ -347,6 +347,7 @@ func (pr *Reader) ReadInto(rec *Record) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("perf ringbuffer: %w", ErrClosed)
 	}
 
+	var checkAllRings = false
 	for {
 		if len(pr.epollRings) == 0 {
 			// NB: The deferred pauseMu.Unlock will panic if Wait panics, which
@@ -355,7 +356,11 @@ func (pr *Reader) ReadInto(rec *Record) error {
 			nEvents, err := pr.poller.Wait(pr.epollEvents, pr.deadline)
 			pr.pauseMu.Lock()
 			if err != nil {
-				return err
+				if errors.Is(err, os.ErrDeadlineExceeded) {
+					checkAllRings = true
+				} else {
+					return err
+				}
 			}
 
 			// Re-validate pr.paused since we dropped pauseMu.
@@ -363,14 +368,25 @@ func (pr *Reader) ReadInto(rec *Record) error {
 				return errMustBePaused
 			}
 
-			for _, event := range pr.epollEvents[:nEvents] {
-				ring := pr.rings[cpuForEvent(&event)]
-				pr.epollRings = append(pr.epollRings, ring)
+			if checkAllRings {
+				for _, ring := range pr.rings {
+                                        pr.epollRings = append(pr.epollRings, ring)
 
-				// Read the current head pointer now, not every time
-				// we read a record. This prevents a single fast producer
-				// from keeping the reader busy.
-				ring.loadHead()
+                                        // Read the current head pointer now, not every time
+                                        // we read a record. This prevents a single fast producer
+                                        // from keeping the reader busy.
+                                        ring.loadHead()
+				}
+			} else {
+				for _, event := range pr.epollEvents[:nEvents] {
+					ring := pr.rings[cpuForEvent(&event)]
+					pr.epollRings = append(pr.epollRings, ring)
+
+					// Read the current head pointer now, not every time
+					// we read a record. This prevents a single fast producer
+					// from keeping the reader busy.
+					ring.loadHead()
+				}
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -382,6 +398,9 @@ func (pr *Reader) ReadInto(rec *Record) error {
 			// We've emptied the current ring buffer, process
 			// the next one.
 			pr.epollRings = pr.epollRings[:len(pr.epollRings)-1]
+			if checkAllRings && len(pr.epollRings) == 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("epoll wait: %w", os.ErrDeadlineExceeded)
+			}
 			continue
 		}