diff --git a/pkg/kv/kvserver/multiqueue/multi_queue.go b/pkg/kv/kvserver/multiqueue/multi_queue.go
index 813c07bd3a6a..588c4556de46 100644
--- a/pkg/kv/kvserver/multiqueue/multi_queue.go
+++ b/pkg/kv/kvserver/multiqueue/multi_queue.go
@@ -120,8 +120,8 @@ type Permit struct {
 }
 
 // tryRunNextLocked will run the next task in order round-robin through the
-// queues and in priority order within a queue. It will return true if it ran a
-// task. The MultiQueue.mu lock must be held before calling this func.
+// queues and in priority order within a queue.
+// MultiQueue.mu lock must be held before calling this function.
 func (m *MultiQueue) tryRunNextLocked() {
 	// If no permits are left, then we can't run anything.
 	if m.remainingRuns <= 0 {
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ func (m *MultiQueue) tryRunNextLocked() {
 
 	for i := 0; i < len(m.outstanding); i++ {
 		// Start with the next queue in order and iterate through all empty queues.
-		// If all queues are empty then return false signaling that nothing was run.
+		// If all queues are empty then return, as there is nothing to run.
 		index := (m.lastQueueIndex + i + 1) % len(m.outstanding)
 		if m.outstanding[index].Len() > 0 {
 			task := heap.Pop(&m.outstanding[index]).(*Task)
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ func (m *MultiQueue) tryRunNextLocked() {
 	}
 }
 
-// Add returns a Task that must be closed (calling Task.Close) to
+// Add returns a Task that must be closed (calling m.Release(..)) to
 // release the Permit. The number of types is expected to
 // be relatively small and not be changing over time.
 func (m *MultiQueue) Add(queueType int, priority float64) *Task {
@@ -166,10 +166,7 @@ func (m *MultiQueue) Add(queueType int, priority float64) *Task {
 	}
 	heap.Push(&m.outstanding[pos], &newTask)
 
-	// Once we are done adding a task, signal the main loop in case it finished
-	// all its work and was waiting for more work. We are holding the mu lock when
-	// signaling, so we guarantee that it will not be able to respond to the
-	// signal until after we release the lock.
+	// Once we are done adding a task, attempt to signal the next waiting task.
 	m.tryRunNextLocked()
 
 	return &newTask
@@ -184,21 +181,25 @@ func (m *MultiQueue) Cancel(task *Task) {
 	// Task will track its position within the queue.
 	queueIdx := m.mapping[task.queueType]
 	ok := m.outstanding[queueIdx].tryRemove(task)
+	// Close the permit channel so that waiters stop blocking.
+	if ok {
+		close(task.permitC)
+		return
+	}
 	// If we get here, we are racing with the task being started. The concern is
 	// that the caller may also call MultiQueue.Release since the task was
 	// started. Either we get the permit or the caller, so we guarantee only one
 	// release will be called.
-	if !ok {
-		select {
-		case p, ok := <-task.permitC:
-			// Only release if the channel is open, and we can get the permit.
-			if ok {
-				m.releaseLocked(p)
-			}
-		default:
-			// If we are not able to get the permit, this means the permit has already
-			// been given to the caller, and they must call Release on it.
+	select {
+	case p, ok := <-task.permitC:
+		// Only release if the channel is open, and we can get the permit.
+		if ok {
+			close(task.permitC)
+			m.releaseLocked(p)
 		}
+	default:
+		// If we are not able to get the permit, this means the permit has already
+		// been given to the caller, and they must call Release on it.
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/kv/kvserver/multiqueue/multi_queue_test.go b/pkg/kv/kvserver/multiqueue/multi_queue_test.go
index ce7e676b3348..8e693a1e210f 100644
--- a/pkg/kv/kvserver/multiqueue/multi_queue_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kv/kvserver/multiqueue/multi_queue_test.go
@@ -121,6 +121,100 @@ func TestMultiQueueRemove(t *testing.T) {
 	verifyOrder(t, queue, a3, b3, c3, a2, c2)
 }
 
+func TestMultiQueueCancelOne(t *testing.T) {
+	defer leaktest.AfterTest(t)()
+	defer log.Scope(t).Close(t)
+	queue := NewMultiQueue(1)
+	task := queue.Add(1, 1)
+	queue.Cancel(task)
+}
+
+func TestMultiQueueCancelInProgress(t *testing.T) {
+	defer leaktest.AfterTest(t)()
+	defer log.Scope(t).Close(t)
+
+	queue := NewMultiQueue(1)
+
+	const a = 1
+	const b = 2
+	const c = 3
+
+	a3 := queue.Add(a, 5.0)
+	a2 := queue.Add(a, 4.0)
+	b1 := queue.Add(b, 1.1)
+	b2 := queue.Add(b, 2.1)
+	c3 := queue.Add(c, 2.2)
+	b3 := queue.Add(b, 6.1)
+
+	queue.Cancel(b2)
+	queue.Cancel(b1)
+
+	started := 0
+	completed := 0
+	startTask := func(task *Task) (*Permit, bool) {
+		select {
+		case permit, ok := <-task.GetWaitChan():
+			if ok {
+				started++
+				return permit, true
+			}
+		case <-time.After(time.Second):
+			t.Fatalf(`should not wait for task on queue %d with priority %f to start`,
+				task.queueType, task.priority,
+			)
+		}
+		return nil, false
+	}
+
+	completeTask := func(task *Task, permit *Permit) {
+		releaseStarted := make(chan struct{})
+		releaseFinished := make(chan struct{})
+		go func() {
+			close(releaseStarted)
+			queue.Release(permit)
+			close(releaseFinished)
+		}()
+		<-releaseStarted
+		select {
+		case <-releaseFinished:
+			completed++
+		case <-time.After(time.Second):
+			t.Fatalf(`should not wait for task on queue %d with priority %f to complete`,
+				task.queueType, task.priority,
+			)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Execute a3.
+	a3Permit, ok := startTask(a3)
+	require.True(t, ok)
+	completeTask(a3, a3Permit)
+
+	// Cancel b3 before starting. Should not be able to get permit.
+	queue.Cancel(b3)
+	_, ok = startTask(b3)
+	require.False(t, ok)
+
+	// Now, should be able to execute c3 immediately.
+	c3Permit, ok := startTask(c3)
+	require.True(t, ok)
+
+	// A and C started
+	require.Equal(t, 2, started)
+	// A completed
+	require.Equal(t, 1, completed)
+
+	// Complete c3 and cancel after completion.
+	completeTask(c3, c3Permit)
+	queue.Cancel(c3)
+
+	// Start a2, which is the final item and also should not block to start.
+	startTask(a2)
+
+	require.Equal(t, 3, started)
+	require.Equal(t, 2, completed)
+}
+
 // TestMultiQueueStress calls Add from multiple threads. It chooses different
 // names and different priorities for the requests. The goal is simply to make
 // sure that all the requests are serviced and nothing hangs or fails.