@@ -2017,12 +2073,14 @@ __evict_walk_prepare(WT_SESSION_IMPL *session, uint32_t *walk_flagsp)
     case WT_EVICT_WALK_NEXT:
         /* Each time when evict_ref is null, alternate between linear and random walk */
         if (btree->evict_ref == NULL && (++btree->linear_walk_restarts) & 1)
-            goto rand_next;
+            /* Alternate with rand_prev so that the start of the tree is visited more often */
+            goto rand_prev;
         break;
     case WT_EVICT_WALK_PREV:
         /* Each time when evict_ref is null, alternate between linear and random walk */
         if (btree->evict_ref == NULL && (++btree->linear_walk_restarts) & 1)
-            goto rand_prev;
+            /* Alternate with rand_next so that the end of the tree is visited more often */
+            goto rand_next;
         FLD_SET(*walk_flagsp, WT_READ_PREV);
         break;