diff --git a/zebra/zserv.c b/zebra/zserv.c
index 6a64176d98b3..3671fdb50799 100644
--- a/zebra/zserv.c
+++ b/zebra/zserv.c
@@ -306,6 +306,14 @@ static void zserv_write(struct event *thread)
  * this task reschedules itself.
  *
  * Any failure in any of these actions is handled by terminating the client.
+ *
+ * The client's input buffer ibuf_fifo can have a maximum items as configured
+ * in the packets_to_process. This way we are not filling up the FIFO more
+ * than the maximum when the zebra main is busy. If the fifo has space, we
+ * reschedule ourselves to read more.
+ *
+ * The main thread processes the items in ibuf_fifo and always signals the
+ * client IO thread.
  */
 static void zserv_read(struct event *thread)
 {
@@ -313,15 +321,25 @@ static void zserv_read(struct event *thread)
 	int sock;
 	size_t already;
 	struct stream_fifo *cache;
-	uint32_t p2p_orig;
-
-	uint32_t p2p;
+	uint32_t p2p;	    /* Temp p2p used to process */
+	uint32_t p2p_orig;  /* Configured p2p (Default-1000) */
+	int p2p_avail;	    /* How much space is available for p2p */
 	struct zmsghdr hdr;
+	size_t client_ibuf_fifo_cnt = stream_fifo_count_safe(client->ibuf_fifo);
 
 	p2p_orig = atomic_load_explicit(&zrouter.packets_to_process,
 					memory_order_relaxed);
+	p2p_avail = p2p_orig - client_ibuf_fifo_cnt;
+
+    /*
+     * Do nothing if ibuf_fifo count has reached its max limit. Otherwise
+     * proceed and reschedule ourselves if there is space in the ibuf_fifo.
+     */
+	if (p2p_avail <= 0)
+		return;
+
+	p2p = p2p_avail;
 	cache = stream_fifo_new();
-	p2p = p2p_orig;
 	sock = EVENT_FD(thread);
 
 	while (p2p) {
@@ -421,7 +439,7 @@ static void zserv_read(struct event *thread)
 		p2p--;
 	}
 
-	if (p2p < p2p_orig) {
+	if (p2p < (uint32_t)p2p_avail) {
 		uint64_t time_now = monotime(NULL);
 
 		/* update session statistics */
@@ -435,19 +453,23 @@ static void zserv_read(struct event *thread)
 			while (cache->head)
 				stream_fifo_push(client->ibuf_fifo,
 						 stream_fifo_pop(cache));
+			/* Need to update count as main thread could have processed few */
+			client_ibuf_fifo_cnt =
+				stream_fifo_count_safe(client->ibuf_fifo);
 		}
 
 		/* Schedule job to process those packets */
 		zserv_event(client, ZSERV_PROCESS_MESSAGES);
-
 	}
 
 	if (IS_ZEBRA_DEBUG_PACKET)
-		zlog_debug("Read %d packets from client: %s", p2p_orig - p2p,
-			   zebra_route_string(client->proto));
+		zlog_debug("Read %d packets from client: %s. Current ibuf fifo count: %zu. Conf P2p %d",
+			   p2p_avail - p2p, zebra_route_string(client->proto),
+			   client_ibuf_fifo_cnt, p2p_orig);
 
-	/* Reschedule ourselves */
-	zserv_client_event(client, ZSERV_CLIENT_READ);
+	/* Reschedule ourselves since we have space in ibuf_fifo */
+	if (client_ibuf_fifo_cnt < p2p_orig)
+		zserv_client_event(client, ZSERV_CLIENT_READ);
 
 	stream_fifo_free(cache);
 
@@ -483,14 +505,20 @@ static void zserv_client_event(struct zserv *client,
  * as the task argument.
  *
  * Each message is popped off the client's input queue and the action associated
- * with the message is executed. This proceeds until there are no more messages,
- * an error occurs, or the processing limit is reached.
+ * with the message is executed. This proceeds until an error occurs, or the
+ * processing limit is reached.
  *
  * The client's I/O thread can push at most zrouter.packets_to_process messages
  * onto the input buffer before notifying us there are packets to read. As long
  * as we always process zrouter.packets_to_process messages here, then we can
  * rely on the read thread to handle queuing this task enough times to process
  * everything on the input queue.
+ *
+ * If the client ibuf always schedules a wakeup to the client IO to read more
+ * items from the socked buffer. This way we ensure
+ *  - Client IO thread always tries to read the socket buffer and add more
+ *    items to the ibuf_fifo (until max limit)
+ *  - the hidden config change (zebra zapi-packets <>) is taken into account.
  */
 static void zserv_process_messages(struct event *thread)
 {
@@ -524,6 +552,9 @@ static void zserv_process_messages(struct event *thread)
 	/* Reschedule ourselves if necessary */
 	if (need_resched)
 		zserv_event(client, ZSERV_PROCESS_MESSAGES);
+
+	/* Ensure to include the read socket in the select/poll/etc.. */
+	zserv_client_event(client, ZSERV_CLIENT_READ);
 }
 
 int zserv_send_message(struct zserv *client, struct stream *msg)