diff --git a/examples/server/server.cpp b/examples/server/server.cpp
index cbda4e0587387..25c5f80e09fb4 100644
--- a/examples/server/server.cpp
+++ b/examples/server/server.cpp
@@ -226,10 +226,6 @@ struct server_slot {
         return n_remaining > 0; // no budget
     }
 
-    bool available() const {
-        return state == SLOT_STATE_IDLE;
-    }
-
     bool is_processing() const {
         return state != SLOT_STATE_IDLE;
     }
@@ -249,7 +245,7 @@ struct server_slot {
                 {"id_slot",   id},
                 {"id_task",   id_task},
                 {"n_past",    n_past},
-                {"truncated", truncated}
+                {"truncated", truncated},
             });
             callback_on_release(id);
         }
@@ -436,6 +432,7 @@ struct server_queue {
     void defer(server_task task) {
         std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(mutex_tasks);
         queue_tasks_deferred.push_back(std::move(task));
+        condition_tasks.notify_one();
     }
 
     // Get the next id for creating a new task
@@ -458,7 +455,6 @@ struct server_queue {
 
     // Call when the state of one slot is changed, it will move one task from deferred to main queue
     void pop_deferred_task() {
-        // move deferred tasks back to main loop
         std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(mutex_tasks);
         if (!queue_tasks_deferred.empty()) {
             server_task task = queue_tasks_deferred.front();
@@ -807,7 +803,7 @@ struct server_context {
 
             for (server_slot & slot : slots) {
                 // skip the slot if it is not available
-                if (!slot.available()) {
+                if (slot.is_processing()) {
                     continue;
                 }
 
@@ -849,7 +845,7 @@ struct server_context {
             int64_t t_last = ggml_time_us();
             for (server_slot & slot : slots) {
                 // skip the slot if it is not available
-                if (!slot.available()) {
+                if (slot.is_processing()) {
                     continue;
                 }
 
@@ -1631,7 +1627,7 @@ struct server_context {
                         queue_tasks.defer(task);
                         break;
                     }
-                    if (!slot->available()) {
+                    if (slot->is_processing()) {
                         // if requested slot is unavailable, we defer this task for processing later
                         LOG_VERBOSE("requested slot is unavailable", {{"id_task", task.id}});
                         queue_tasks.defer(task);
@@ -1756,7 +1752,7 @@ struct server_context {
                         send_error(task, "Invalid slot ID", ERROR_TYPE_INVALID_REQUEST);
                         break;
                     }
-                    if (!slot->available()) {
+                    if (slot->is_processing()) {
                         // if requested slot is unavailable, we defer this task for processing later
                         LOG_VERBOSE("requested slot is unavailable", {{"id_task", task.id}});
                         queue_tasks.defer(task);
@@ -1797,7 +1793,7 @@ struct server_context {
                         send_error(task, "Invalid slot ID", ERROR_TYPE_INVALID_REQUEST);
                         break;
                     }
-                    if (!slot->available()) {
+                    if (slot->is_processing()) {
                         // if requested slot is unavailable, we defer this task for processing later
                         LOG_VERBOSE("requested slot is unavailable", {{"id_task", task.id}});
                         queue_tasks.defer(task);
@@ -1845,7 +1841,7 @@ struct server_context {
                         send_error(task, "Invalid slot ID", ERROR_TYPE_INVALID_REQUEST);
                         break;
                     }
-                    if (!slot->available()) {
+                    if (slot->is_processing()) {
                         // if requested slot is unavailable, we defer this task for processing later
                         LOG_VERBOSE("requested slot is unavailable", {{"id_task", task.id}});
                         queue_tasks.defer(task);