Techniques related to a QoS-aware decoder architecture for data storage are described. In an example, QoS specifications include a QOS latency specification indicative of an acceptable latency for completing the processing of a data read command. The decoder may store this QOS latency specification. In operation, the decoder generates a latency measurement indicative of the actual latency for the processing. If a comparison of the latency measurement and QOS latency specification indicates a violation of the QOS latency specification, the decoder can terminate the decoding and generate a decoding failure.