Techniques for performing I/O load balancing are provided. In one embodiment, a computer system can receive an I/O request destined for a storage array, where the computer system is communicatively coupled with the storage array via a plurality of paths, and where the plurality of paths include a set of optimized paths and a set of unoptimized paths. The computer system can further determine whether the I/O request can be transmitted to the storage array via either an optimized path or an unoptimized path, or solely via an optimized path. The computer system can then select a path in the plurality of paths based on the determination and transmit the I/O request to the storage array via the selected path.