Techniques for executing workgroups are provided. The techniques include executing, for a first workgroup of a first kernel dispatch, a workgroup dependency instruction that includes an indication to prioritize execution of a second workgroup of a second kernel dispatch, and in response to the workgroup dependency instruction, dispatching the second workgroup of the second kernel dispatch prior to dispatching a third workgroup of the second kernel dispatch, wherein no workgroup dependency instruction including an indication to prioritize execution of the third workgroup has been executed.