A technique for processing instructions in an electronic system is provided. In one embodiment, a processor of the electronic system may submit a unit of work to a queue accessible by a coprocessor, such as a graphics processing unit. The coprocessor may process work from the queue, and write a completion record into a memory accessible by the processor. The electronic system may be configured to switch between a polling mode and an interrupt mode based on progress made by the coprocessor in processing the work. In one embodiment, the processor may switch from an interrupt mode to a polling mode upon completion of a threshold amount of work by the coprocessor. Various additional methods, systems, and computer program products are also provided.