diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/jruby/RubyThread.java b/core/src/main/java/org/jruby/RubyThread.java
index 5c5fe9f69f6..d0c32bd8877 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/jruby/RubyThread.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/jruby/RubyThread.java
@@ -331,8 +331,7 @@ private int getInterrupts() {
     }
 
     private IRubyObject pendingInterruptDeque(ThreadContext context, int timing) {
-        for (Iterator<IRubyObject> iterator = pendingInterruptQueue.iterator(); iterator.hasNext();) {
-            IRubyObject err = iterator.next();
+        for (IRubyObject err = pendingInterruptQueue.peek(); err != null;) {
             int maskTiming = pendingInterruptCheckMask(context, err);
 
             switch (maskTiming) {
@@ -340,7 +339,7 @@ private IRubyObject pendingInterruptDeque(ThreadContext context, int timing) {
                     if (timing != INTERRUPT_ON_BLOCKING) break;
                 case INTERRUPT_NONE:
                 case INTERRUPT_IMMEDIATE:
-                    iterator.remove();
+                    pendingInterruptQueue.clear();
                     return err;
                 case INTERRUPT_NEVER:
                     break;