diff --git a/src/aioproxies/manager.py b/src/aioproxies/manager.py
index ede0cf1..aad6e1a 100644
--- a/src/aioproxies/manager.py
+++ b/src/aioproxies/manager.py
@@ -173,6 +173,8 @@ class AioProxies:
             if self._available(state["timeout"], now):
                 fine.append(idx)
                 self._clear_stale_burn(state)
+                # only the first available proxy is used; scanning on is O(pool) per call
+                break
 
         if fine:
             chosen = fine[0]