diff --git a/stub/src/main/java/io/grpc/stub/ClientCalls.java b/stub/src/main/java/io/grpc/stub/ClientCalls.java
index f946b3bcc8..0266cb7d9a 100644
--- a/stub/src/main/java/io/grpc/stub/ClientCalls.java
+++ b/stub/src/main/java/io/grpc/stub/ClientCalls.java
@@ -577,8 +577,9 @@ public final class ClientCalls {
    */
   // TODO(ejona86): determine how to allow ClientCall.cancel() in case of application error.
   private static final class BlockingResponseStream<T> implements Iterator<T> {
-    // Due to flow control, only needs to hold up to 2 items: 1 for value, 1 for close.
-    private final BlockingQueue<Object> buffer = new ArrayBlockingQueue<>(2);
+    // Due to flow control, only needs to hold up to 3 items: 2 for value, 1 for close.
+    // (2 for value, not 1, because of early request() in next())
+    private final BlockingQueue<Object> buffer = new ArrayBlockingQueue<>(3);
     private final StartableListener<T> listener = new QueuingListener();
     private final ClientCall<?, T> call;
     /** May be null. */
@@ -651,17 +652,20 @@ public final class ClientCalls {
 
     @Override
     public T next() {
+      // Eagerly call request(1) so it can be processing the next message while we wait for the
+      // current one, which reduces latency for the next message. With MigratingThreadDeframer and
+      // if the data has already been recieved, every other message can be delivered instantly. This
+      // can be run after hasNext(), but just would be slower.
+      if (!(last instanceof StatusRuntimeException) && last != this) {
+        call.request(1);
+      }
       if (!hasNext()) {
         throw new NoSuchElementException();
       }
-      try {
-        call.request(1);
-        @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-        T tmp = (T) last;
-        return tmp;
-      } finally {
-        last = null;
-      }
+      @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+      T tmp = (T) last;
+      last = null;
+      return tmp;
     }
 
     @Override