diff --git a/src/sema_manager.cc b/src/sema_manager.cc
index dca5b03b..dbe57672 100644
--- a/src/sema_manager.cc
+++ b/src/sema_manager.cc
@@ -421,7 +421,8 @@ void *preambleMain(void *manager_) {
   auto *manager = static_cast<SemaManager *>(manager_);
   set_thread_name("preamble");
   while (true) {
-    SemaManager::PreambleTask task = manager->preamble_tasks.dequeue();
+    SemaManager::PreambleTask task = manager->preamble_tasks.dequeue(
+        g_config ? g_config->session.maxNum : 0);
     if (pipeline::g_quit.load(std::memory_order_relaxed))
       break;
 
diff --git a/src/threaded_queue.hh b/src/threaded_queue.hh
index c2927640..d357b3d6 100644
--- a/src/threaded_queue.hh
+++ b/src/threaded_queue.hh
@@ -126,12 +126,14 @@ public:
   bool isEmpty() { return total_count_ == 0; }
 
   // Get the first element from the queue. Blocks until one is available.
-  T dequeue() {
+  T dequeue(int keep_only_latest = 0) {
     std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(mutex_);
     waiter_->cv.wait(lock,
                      [&]() { return !priority_.empty() || !queue_.empty(); });
 
     auto execute = [&](std::deque<T> *q) {
+      if (keep_only_latest > 0 && q->size() > keep_only_latest)
+        q->erase(q->begin(), q->end() - keep_only_latest);
       auto val = std::move(q->front());
       q->pop_front();
       --total_count_;