diff --git a/changelog/812.feature b/changelog/812.feature
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4fda9541
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/812.feature
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Partially restore old initial batch distribution algorithm in ``LoadScheduling``.
diff --git a/src/xdist/scheduler/load.py b/src/xdist/scheduler/load.py
index f32caa55..195282dc 100644
--- a/src/xdist/scheduler/load.py
+++ b/src/xdist/scheduler/load.py
@@ -248,13 +248,19 @@ def schedule(self):
         # Send a batch of tests to run. If we don't have at least two
         # tests per node, we have to send them all so that we can send
         # shutdown signals and get all nodes working.
-        initial_batch = max(len(self.pending) // 4, 2 * len(self.nodes))
-
-        # distribute tests round-robin up to the batch size
-        # (or until we run out)
-        nodes = cycle(self.nodes)
-        for i in range(initial_batch):
-            self._send_tests(next(nodes), 1)
+        if len(self.pending) < 2 * len(self.nodes):
+            # distribute tests round-robin
+            nodes = cycle(self.nodes)
+            for i in range(len(self.pending)):
+                self._send_tests(next(nodes), 1)
+        else:
+            # how many items per node do we have about?
+            items_per_node = len(self.collection) // len(self.node2pending)
+            # take a fraction of tests for initial distribution
+            node_chunksize = max(items_per_node // 4, 2)
+            # and initialize each node with a chunk of tests
+            for node in self.nodes:
+                self._send_tests(node, node_chunksize)
 
         if not self.pending:
             # initial distribution sent all tests, start node shutdown
diff --git a/testing/test_dsession.py b/testing/test_dsession.py
index d3a57152..86273b8c 100644
--- a/testing/test_dsession.py
+++ b/testing/test_dsession.py
@@ -115,18 +115,18 @@ def test_schedule_batch_size(self, pytester: pytest.Pytester) -> None:
         # assert not sched.tests_finished
         sent1 = node1.sent
         sent2 = node2.sent
-        assert sent1 == [0, 2]
-        assert sent2 == [1, 3]
+        assert sent1 == [0, 1]
+        assert sent2 == [2, 3]
         assert sched.pending == [4, 5]
         assert sched.node2pending[node1] == sent1
         assert sched.node2pending[node2] == sent2
         assert len(sched.pending) == 2
         sched.mark_test_complete(node1, 0)
-        assert node1.sent == [0, 2, 4]
+        assert node1.sent == [0, 1, 4]
         assert sched.pending == [5]
-        assert node2.sent == [1, 3]
-        sched.mark_test_complete(node1, 2)
-        assert node1.sent == [0, 2, 4, 5]
+        assert node2.sent == [2, 3]
+        sched.mark_test_complete(node1, 1)
+        assert node1.sent == [0, 1, 4, 5]
         assert not sched.pending
 
     def test_schedule_fewer_tests_than_nodes(self, pytester: pytest.Pytester) -> None: