diff --git a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/filter/PrefixFilter.java b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/filter/PrefixFilter.java
index 8a62b9b31f2..7e356738acc 100644
--- a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/filter/PrefixFilter.java
+++ b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/filter/PrefixFilter.java
@@ -40,9 +40,11 @@ import com.google.protobuf.InvalidProtocolBufferException;
 @InterfaceAudience.Public
 @InterfaceStability.Stable
 public class PrefixFilter extends FilterBase {
+  public static final int MAX_SKIPPED_COMPARE_ROW_NUM = 100;
   protected byte [] prefix = null;
   protected boolean passedPrefix = false;
   protected boolean filterRow = true;
+  protected int skippedCompareRows = 0;
 
   public PrefixFilter(final byte [] prefix) {
     this.prefix = prefix;
@@ -56,7 +58,12 @@ public class PrefixFilter extends FilterBase {
     if (firstRowCell == null || this.prefix == null)
       return true;
     int length = firstRowCell.getRowLength();
-    if (length < prefix.length) return true;
+    if (length < prefix.length && skippedCompareRows < MAX_SKIPPED_COMPARE_ROW_NUM) {
+      ++skippedCompareRows;
+      return true;
+    }   
+    skippedCompareRows = 0;
+    
     // if they are equal, return false => pass row
     // else return true, filter row
     // if we are passed the prefix, set flag