In one embodiment a storage controller comprises a processor, a computer readable storage medium coupled to the processor, and logic instructions in the memory module which, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to receive, in a quality of service module, a first command request from a host initiator port, associate a time-out threshold with the first command request, determine, in the quality of service module, whether an available priority queue can release the first command request for execution by a scheduling module within the time-out threshold; and in response to a determination that an available priority queue can release the first command request for execution within the time-out threshold, assign the first command request to the available priority queue.