A method for allocating data write credits for a storage device includes gathering requests for the data write credits from a plurality of data sources and assembling the plurality of data sources in a prioritized list. The method also includes removing lowest priority data sources one by one from the prioritized list until a total of the requests made by all data sources remaining in the prioritized list are within a number of available data write credits, and granting the requests for all the data sources remaining in the prioritized list.