diff --git a/include/sys/spa.h b/include/sys/spa.h
index 07e09d1ec0..42f7fec0fc 100644
--- a/include/sys/spa.h
+++ b/include/sys/spa.h
@@ -972,6 +972,8 @@ extern int spa_import_progress_set_state(uint64_t pool_guid,
 /* Pool configuration locks */
 extern int spa_config_tryenter(spa_t *spa, int locks, void *tag, krw_t rw);
 extern void spa_config_enter(spa_t *spa, int locks, const void *tag, krw_t rw);
+extern void spa_config_enter_mmp(spa_t *spa, int locks, const void *tag,
+    krw_t rw);
 extern void spa_config_exit(spa_t *spa, int locks, const void *tag);
 extern int spa_config_held(spa_t *spa, int locks, krw_t rw);
 
diff --git a/module/zfs/mmp.c b/module/zfs/mmp.c
index f67a4eb22a..139bb0acd2 100644
--- a/module/zfs/mmp.c
+++ b/module/zfs/mmp.c
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ mmp_write_uberblock(spa_t *spa)
 	uint64_t offset;
 
 	hrtime_t lock_acquire_time = gethrtime();
-	spa_config_enter(spa, SCL_STATE, mmp_tag, RW_READER);
+	spa_config_enter_mmp(spa, SCL_STATE, mmp_tag, RW_READER);
 	lock_acquire_time = gethrtime() - lock_acquire_time;
 	if (lock_acquire_time > (MSEC2NSEC(MMP_MIN_INTERVAL) / 10))
 		zfs_dbgmsg("MMP SCL_STATE acquisition pool '%s' took %llu ns "
diff --git a/module/zfs/spa_misc.c b/module/zfs/spa_misc.c
index 10837241b5..113943026d 100644
--- a/module/zfs/spa_misc.c
+++ b/module/zfs/spa_misc.c
@@ -494,8 +494,9 @@ spa_config_tryenter(spa_t *spa, int locks, void *tag, krw_t rw)
 	return (1);
 }
 
-void
-spa_config_enter(spa_t *spa, int locks, const void *tag, krw_t rw)
+static void
+spa_config_enter_impl(spa_t *spa, int locks, const void *tag, krw_t rw,
+    int mmp_flag)
 {
 	(void) tag;
 	int wlocks_held = 0;
@@ -510,7 +511,8 @@ spa_config_enter(spa_t *spa, int locks, const void *tag, krw_t rw)
 			continue;
 		mutex_enter(&scl->scl_lock);
 		if (rw == RW_READER) {
-			while (scl->scl_writer || scl->scl_write_wanted) {
+			while (scl->scl_writer ||
+			    (!mmp_flag && scl->scl_write_wanted)) {
 				cv_wait(&scl->scl_cv, &scl->scl_lock);
 			}
 		} else {
@@ -528,6 +530,27 @@ spa_config_enter(spa_t *spa, int locks, const void *tag, krw_t rw)
 	ASSERT3U(wlocks_held, <=, locks);
 }
 
+void
+spa_config_enter(spa_t *spa, int locks, const void *tag, krw_t rw)
+{
+	spa_config_enter_impl(spa, locks, tag, rw, 0);
+}
+
+/*
+ * The spa_config_enter_mmp() allows the mmp thread to cut in front of
+ * outstanding write lock requests. This is needed since the mmp updates are
+ * time sensitive and failure to service them promptly will result in a
+ * suspended pool. This pool suspension has been seen in practice when there is
+ * a single disk in a pool that is responding slowly and presumably about to
+ * fail.
+ */
+
+void
+spa_config_enter_mmp(spa_t *spa, int locks, const void *tag, krw_t rw)
+{
+	spa_config_enter_impl(spa, locks, tag, rw, 1);
+}
+
 void
 spa_config_exit(spa_t *spa, int locks, const void *tag)
 {