diff --git a/pkg/kv/kvserver/client_replica_test.go b/pkg/kv/kvserver/client_replica_test.go
index 0e7ee066ce3b..4a59f89174c3 100644
--- a/pkg/kv/kvserver/client_replica_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kv/kvserver/client_replica_test.go
@@ -3286,3 +3286,23 @@ func makeReplicationTargets(ids ...int) (targets []roachpb.ReplicationTarget) {
 	}
 	return targets
 }
+
+func TestRaftSchedulerPrioritizesNodeLiveness(t *testing.T) {
+	defer leaktest.AfterTest(t)()
+	defer log.Scope(t).Close(t)
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	s, _, _ := serverutils.StartServer(t, base.TestServerArgs{})
+	defer s.Stopper().Stop(ctx)
+
+	store, err := s.GetStores().(*kvserver.Stores).GetStore(s.GetFirstStoreID())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// Determine the node liveness range ID.
+	livenessRepl := store.LookupReplica(roachpb.RKey(keys.NodeLivenessPrefix))
+	livenessRangeID := livenessRepl.RangeID
+
+	// Assert that the node liveness range is prioritized.
+	priorityID := store.RaftSchedulerPriorityID()
+	require.Equal(t, livenessRangeID, priorityID)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/kv/kvserver/helpers_test.go b/pkg/kv/kvserver/helpers_test.go
index 1996e97c329d..a23658609136 100644
--- a/pkg/kv/kvserver/helpers_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kv/kvserver/helpers_test.go
@@ -189,6 +189,11 @@ func (s *Store) ReservationCount() int {
 	return len(s.snapshotApplySem)
 }
 
+// RaftSchedulerPriorityID returns the Raft scheduler's prioritized range.
+func (s *Store) RaftSchedulerPriorityID() roachpb.RangeID {
+	return s.scheduler.PriorityID()
+}
+
 // ClearClosedTimestampStorage clears the closed timestamp storage of all
 // knowledge about closed timestamps.
 func (s *Store) ClearClosedTimestampStorage() {
diff --git a/pkg/kv/kvserver/replica_init.go b/pkg/kv/kvserver/replica_init.go
index dbb25634bf07..01791ba3ca9b 100644
--- a/pkg/kv/kvserver/replica_init.go
+++ b/pkg/kv/kvserver/replica_init.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 package kvserver
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"math/rand"
 	"time"
@@ -312,4 +313,10 @@ func (r *Replica) setDescLockedRaftMuLocked(ctx context.Context, desc *roachpb.R
 	r.connectionClass.set(rpc.ConnectionClassForKey(desc.StartKey))
 	r.concMgr.OnRangeDescUpdated(desc)
 	r.mu.state.Desc = desc
+
+	// Prioritize the NodeLiveness Range in the Raft scheduler above all other
+	// Ranges to ensure that liveness never sees high Raft scheduler latency.
+	if bytes.HasPrefix(desc.StartKey, keys.NodeLivenessPrefix) {
+		r.store.scheduler.SetPriorityID(desc.RangeID)
+	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/kv/kvserver/scheduler.go b/pkg/kv/kvserver/scheduler.go
index ef444f8aaa12..f7462c16c20d 100644
--- a/pkg/kv/kvserver/scheduler.go
+++ b/pkg/kv/kvserver/scheduler.go
@@ -60,16 +60,31 @@ func (c *rangeIDChunk) Len() int {
 // amortizing the allocation/GC cost. Using a chunk queue avoids any copying
 // that would occur if a slice were used (the copying would occur on slice
 // reallocation).
+//
+// The queue has a naive understanding of priority and fairness. For the most
+// part, it implements a FIFO queueing policy with no prioritization of some
+// ranges over others. However, the queue can be configured with up to one
+// high-priority range, which will always be placed at the front when added.
 type rangeIDQueue struct {
+	len int
+
+	// Default priority.
 	chunks list.List
-	len    int
+
+	// High priority.
+	priorityID     roachpb.RangeID
+	priorityQueued bool
 }
 
-func (q *rangeIDQueue) PushBack(id roachpb.RangeID) {
+func (q *rangeIDQueue) Push(id roachpb.RangeID) {
+	q.len++
+	if q.priorityID == id {
+		q.priorityQueued = true
+		return
+	}
 	if q.chunks.Len() == 0 || q.back().WriteCap() == 0 {
 		q.chunks.PushBack(&rangeIDChunk{})
 	}
-	q.len++
 	if !q.back().PushBack(id) {
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf(
 			"unable to push rangeID to chunk: len=%d, cap=%d",
@@ -81,13 +96,17 @@ func (q *rangeIDQueue) PopFront() (roachpb.RangeID, bool) {
 	if q.len == 0 {
 		return 0, false
 	}
+	q.len--
+	if q.priorityQueued {
+		q.priorityQueued = false
+		return q.priorityID, true
+	}
 	frontElem := q.chunks.Front()
 	front := frontElem.Value.(*rangeIDChunk)
 	id, ok := front.PopFront()
 	if !ok {
 		panic("encountered empty chunk")
 	}
-	q.len--
 	if front.Len() == 0 && front.WriteCap() == 0 {
 		q.chunks.Remove(frontElem)
 	}
@@ -98,6 +117,15 @@ func (q *rangeIDQueue) Len() int {
 	return q.len
 }
 
+func (q *rangeIDQueue) SetPriorityID(id roachpb.RangeID) {
+	if q.priorityID != 0 && q.priorityID != id {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf(
+			"priority range ID already set: old=%d, new=%d",
+			q.priorityID, id))
+	}
+	q.priorityID = id
+}
+
 func (q *rangeIDQueue) back() *rangeIDChunk {
 	return q.chunks.Back().Value.(*rangeIDChunk)
 }
@@ -172,6 +200,20 @@ func (s *raftScheduler) Wait(context.Context) {
 	s.done.Wait()
 }
 
+// SetPriorityID configures the single range that the scheduler will prioritize
+// above others. Once set, callers are not permitted to change this value.
+func (s *raftScheduler) SetPriorityID(id roachpb.RangeID) {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	s.mu.queue.SetPriorityID(id)
+	s.mu.Unlock()
+}
+
+func (s *raftScheduler) PriorityID() roachpb.RangeID {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	return s.mu.queue.priorityID
+}
+
 func (s *raftScheduler) worker(ctx context.Context) {
 	defer s.done.Done()
 
@@ -235,7 +277,7 @@ func (s *raftScheduler) worker(ctx context.Context) {
 		} else {
 			// There was a concurrent call to one of the Enqueue* methods. Queue the
 			// range ID for further processing.
-			s.mu.queue.PushBack(id)
+			s.mu.queue.Push(id)
 			s.mu.cond.Signal()
 		}
 	}
@@ -251,7 +293,7 @@ func (s *raftScheduler) enqueue1Locked(addState raftScheduleState, id roachpb.Ra
 	if newState&stateQueued == 0 {
 		newState |= stateQueued
 		queued++
-		s.mu.queue.PushBack(id)
+		s.mu.queue.Push(id)
 	}
 	s.mu.state[id] = newState
 	return queued
diff --git a/pkg/kv/kvserver/scheduler_test.go b/pkg/kv/kvserver/scheduler_test.go
index 56a5190d557e..1381e2321693 100644
--- a/pkg/kv/kvserver/scheduler_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kv/kvserver/scheduler_test.go
@@ -20,9 +20,11 @@ import (
 	"github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/roachpb"
 	"github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/testutils"
 	"github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/util/leaktest"
+	"github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/util/log"
 	"github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/util/stop"
 	"github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/util/syncutil"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
 func TestRangeIDChunk(t *testing.T) {
@@ -93,7 +95,7 @@ func TestRangeIDQueue(t *testing.T) {
 
 	const count = 3 * rangeIDChunkSize
 	for i := 1; i <= count; i++ {
-		q.PushBack(roachpb.RangeID(i))
+		q.Push(roachpb.RangeID(i))
 		if e := i; e != q.Len() {
 			t.Fatalf("expected %d, but found %d", e, q.Len())
 		}
@@ -119,6 +121,41 @@ func TestRangeIDQueue(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestRangeIDQueuePrioritization(t *testing.T) {
+	defer leaktest.AfterTest(t)()
+	defer log.Scope(t).Close(t)
+
+	var q rangeIDQueue
+	for _, withPriority := range []bool{false, true} {
+		if withPriority {
+			q.SetPriorityID(3)
+		}
+
+		// Push 5 ranges in order, then pop them off.
+		for i := 1; i <= 5; i++ {
+			q.Push(roachpb.RangeID(i))
+			require.Equal(t, i, q.Len())
+		}
+		var popped []int
+		for i := 5; ; i-- {
+			require.Equal(t, i, q.Len())
+			id, ok := q.PopFront()
+			if !ok {
+				require.Equal(t, i, 0)
+				break
+			}
+			popped = append(popped, int(id))
+		}
+
+		// Assert pop order.
+		if withPriority {
+			require.Equal(t, []int{3, 1, 2, 4, 5}, popped)
+		} else {
+			require.Equal(t, []int{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, popped)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 type testProcessor struct {
 	mu struct {
 		syncutil.Mutex