diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/irq.c b/arch/x86/kernel/irq.c
index d93b2a55..f0f7d130 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/irq.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/irq.c
@@ -237,8 +237,7 @@ void irq_handler(struct state *s)
 	// evaluate only irq status register if int_no = 124
 	if( s->int_no == 124 ) {
 		check_workqueues_rem_irq();
-	}
-	else {
+	} else {
 		check_workqueues();
 	}
 
@@ -283,4 +282,6 @@ leave_handler:
 	// timer interrupt?
 	if ((s->int_no == 32) || (s->int_no == 123))
 		scheduler(); // switch to a new task
+	else if ((s->int_no >= 32) && (get_highest_priority() > per_core(current_task)->prio))
+		scheduler();
 }
diff --git a/include/metalsvm/tasks.h b/include/metalsvm/tasks.h
index 8dd950f8..3f4589cb 100644
--- a/include/metalsvm/tasks.h
+++ b/include/metalsvm/tasks.h
@@ -180,6 +180,14 @@ int sys_execve(const char* fname, char** argv, char** env);
  */
 void check_scheduling(void);
 
+/** @brief determine the highest priority of all tasks, which are ready
+ *
+ * @return 
+ * - return highest priority
+ * - if no task is ready, the function returns an invalid value (> MAX_PRIO)
+ */
+uint32_t get_highest_priority(void);
+
 /** @brief Call to rescheduling
  *
  * This is a purely assembled procedure for rescheduling
diff --git a/kernel/tasks.c b/kernel/tasks.c
index 910a0605..10f4a50a 100644
--- a/kernel/tasks.c
+++ b/kernel/tasks.c
@@ -75,6 +75,11 @@ void check_scheduling(void) {
 		reschedule();
 }
 
+uint32_t get_highest_priority(void)
+{
+	return msb(runqueues[CORE_ID].prio_bitmap);
+}
+
 int multitasking_init(void) {
 	if (BUILTIN_EXPECT(task_table[0].status != TASK_IDLE, 0)) {
 		kputs("Task 0 is not an idle task\n");