diff --git a/sqlx-core/src/pool/connection_set.rs b/sqlx-core/src/pool/connection_set.rs
index 8683f8a9..7a912f75 100644
--- a/sqlx-core/src/pool/connection_set.rs
+++ b/sqlx-core/src/pool/connection_set.rs
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ enum AcquirePreference {
 struct Global {
     unlock_event: Event<usize>,
     disconnect_event: Event<usize>,
+    locked_set: Box<[AtomicBool]>,
     num_connected: AtomicUsize,
     min_connections: usize,
     min_connections_event: Event<()>,
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ impl<C> ConnectionSet<C> {
         let global = Arc::new(Global {
             unlock_event: Event::with_tag(),
             disconnect_event: Event::with_tag(),
+            locked_set: (0..*size.end()).map(|_| AtomicBool::new(false)).collect(),
             num_connected: AtomicUsize::new(0),
             min_connections: *size.start(),
             min_connections_event: Event::with_tag(),
@@ -118,69 +120,41 @@ impl<C> ConnectionSet<C> {
     }
 
     async fn acquire_inner(&self, pref: AcquirePreference) -> SlotGuard<C> {
-        /// Smallest time-step supported by [`tokio::time::sleep()`].
-        ///
-        /// `async-io` doesn't document a minimum time-step, instead deferring to the platform.
-        const STEP_INTERVAL: Duration = Duration::from_millis(1);
-
-        const SEARCH_LIMIT: usize = 5;
-
-        let preferred_slot = current_thread_id() % self.slots.len();
+                let preferred_slot = current_thread_id() % self.slots.len();
 
         tracing::trace!(preferred_slot, ?pref, "acquire_inner");
 
         // Always try to lock the connection associated with our thread ID
         let mut acquire_preferred = pin!(self.slots[preferred_slot].acquire(pref));
 
-        let mut step_interval = pin!(rt::interval_after(STEP_INTERVAL));
-
-        let mut intervals_elapsed = 0usize;
-
-        let mut search_slots = FuturesUnordered::new();
-
         let mut listen_global = pin!(self.global.listen(pref));
 
-        let mut search_slot = self.next_slot(preferred_slot);
+        let mut yielded = false;
 
-        std::future::poll_fn(|cx| loop {
+        std::future::poll_fn(|cx| {
             if let Poll::Ready(locked) = acquire_preferred.as_mut().poll(cx) {
                 return Poll::Ready(locked);
             }
 
-            // Don't push redundant futures for small sets.
-            let search_limit = cmp::min(SEARCH_LIMIT, self.slots.len());
-
-            if search_slots.len() < search_limit && step_interval.as_mut().poll_tick(cx).is_ready()
-            {
-                intervals_elapsed = intervals_elapsed.saturating_add(1);
-
-                if search_slot != preferred_slot && self.slots[search_slot].matches_pref(pref) {
-                    search_slots.push(self.slots[search_slot].lock());
-                }
-
-                search_slot = self.next_slot(search_slot);
-            }
-
-            if let Poll::Ready(Some(locked)) = Pin::new(&mut search_slots).poll_next(cx) {
-                if locked.matches_pref(pref) {
+            if let Poll::Ready(slot) = listen_global.as_mut().poll(cx) {
+                if let Some(locked) = self.slots[slot].try_acquire(pref) {
                     return Poll::Ready(locked);
                 }
 
-                continue;
+                listen_global.as_mut().set(self.global.listen(pref));
             }
 
-            if intervals_elapsed > search_limit && search_slots.len() < search_limit {
-                if let Poll::Ready(slot) = listen_global.as_mut().poll(cx) {
-                    if self.slots[slot].matches_pref(pref) {
-                        search_slots.push(self.slots[slot].lock());
-                    }
-
-                    listen_global.as_mut().set(self.global.listen(pref));
-                    continue;
-                }
+            if !yielded {
+                cx.waker().wake_by_ref();
+                yielded = true;
+                return Poll::Pending;
             }
 
-            return Poll::Pending;
+            if let Some(locked) = self.try_acquire(pref) {
+                return Poll::Ready(locked);
+            }
+
+            Poll::Pending
         })
         .await
     }