diff --git a/logd/LogBuffer.cpp b/logd/LogBuffer.cpp
index fbed83b76..ded6c8cc7 100644
--- a/logd/LogBuffer.cpp
+++ b/logd/LogBuffer.cpp
@@ -1142,6 +1142,10 @@ log_time LogBuffer::flushTo(SocketClient* reader, const log_time& start,
             continue;
         }
 
+        if (element->getRealTime() <= start) {
+            continue;
+        }
+
         // NB: calling out to another object with wrlock() held (safe)
         if (filter) {
             int ret = (*filter)(element, arg);
@@ -1168,10 +1172,11 @@ log_time LogBuffer::flushTo(SocketClient* reader, const log_time& start,
         unlock();
 
         // range locking in LastLogTimes looks after us
-        log_time next = element->flushTo(reader, this, privileged, sameTid);
+        max = element->flushTo(reader, this, privileged, sameTid);
 
-        if (next == element->FLUSH_ERROR) return next;
-        if (next > max) max = next;
+        if (max == element->FLUSH_ERROR) {
+            return max;
+        }
 
         skip = maxSkip;
         rdlock();