diff --git a/docs/src/fs.rst b/docs/src/fs.rst
index c039a8e6..32cf126c 100644
--- a/docs/src/fs.rst
+++ b/docs/src/fs.rst
@@ -16,7 +16,10 @@ Starting with libuv v1.45.0, some file operations on Linux are handed off to
 `io_uring <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Io_uring>` when possible. Apart from
 a (sometimes significant) increase in throughput there should be no change in
 observable behavior. Libuv reverts to using its threadpool when the necessary
-kernel features are unavailable or unsuitable.
+kernel features are unavailable or unsuitable. Starting with libuv v1.49.0 this
+behavior was reverted and Libuv on Linux by default will be using the threadpool
+again. In order to enable io_uring the :c:type:`uv_loop_t` instance must be
+configured with the :c:type:`UV_LOOP_ENABLE_IO_URING_SQPOLL` option.
 
 .. note::
      On Windows `uv_fs_*` functions use utf-8 encoding.
diff --git a/docs/src/loop.rst b/docs/src/loop.rst
index 0f5ddfb3..dc26e654 100644
--- a/docs/src/loop.rst
+++ b/docs/src/loop.rst
@@ -73,8 +73,13 @@ API
 
       This option is necessary to use :c:func:`uv_metrics_idle_time`.
 
+    - UV_LOOP_ENABLE_IO_URING_SQPOLL: Enable SQPOLL io_uring instance to handle
+      asynchronous file system operations.
+
     .. versionchanged:: 1.39.0 added the UV_METRICS_IDLE_TIME option.
 
+    .. versionchanged:: 1.49.0 added the UV_LOOP_ENABLE_IO_URING_SQPOLL option.
+
 .. c:function:: int uv_loop_close(uv_loop_t* loop)
 
     Releases all internal loop resources. Call this function only when the loop
diff --git a/include/uv.h b/include/uv.h
index 44473fce..9e450c51 100644
--- a/include/uv.h
+++ b/include/uv.h
@@ -260,7 +260,9 @@ typedef struct uv_metrics_s uv_metrics_t;
 
 typedef enum {
   UV_LOOP_BLOCK_SIGNAL = 0,
-  UV_METRICS_IDLE_TIME
+  UV_METRICS_IDLE_TIME,
+  UV_LOOP_USE_IO_URING_SQPOLL
+#define UV_LOOP_USE_IO_URING_SQPOLL UV_LOOP_USE_IO_URING_SQPOLL
 } uv_loop_option;
 
 typedef enum {
diff --git a/src/unix/internal.h b/src/unix/internal.h
index a8ff3909..8055730a 100644
--- a/src/unix/internal.h
+++ b/src/unix/internal.h
@@ -157,7 +157,8 @@ typedef struct uv__stream_queued_fds_s uv__stream_queued_fds_t;
 /* loop flags */
 enum {
   UV_LOOP_BLOCK_SIGPROF = 0x1,
-  UV_LOOP_REAP_CHILDREN = 0x2
+  UV_LOOP_REAP_CHILDREN = 0x2,
+  UV_LOOP_ENABLE_IO_URING_SQPOLL = 0x4
 };
 
 /* flags of excluding ifaddr */
diff --git a/src/unix/linux.c b/src/unix/linux.c
index ad07430e..a5f74e89 100644
--- a/src/unix/linux.c
+++ b/src/unix/linux.c
@@ -761,6 +761,14 @@ static struct uv__io_uring_sqe* uv__iou_get_sqe(struct uv__iou* iou,
    * initialization failed. Anything else is a valid ring file descriptor.
    */
   if (iou->ringfd == -2) {
+    /* By default, the SQPOLL is not created. Enable only if the loop is
+     * configured with UV_LOOP_USE_IO_URING_SQPOLL.
+     */
+    if ((loop->flags & UV_LOOP_ENABLE_IO_URING_SQPOLL) == 0) {
+      iou->ringfd = -1;
+      return NULL;
+    }
+
     uv__iou_init(loop->backend_fd, iou, 64, UV__IORING_SETUP_SQPOLL);
     if (iou->ringfd == -2)
       iou->ringfd = -1;  /* "failed" */
diff --git a/src/unix/loop.c b/src/unix/loop.c
index a9468e8e..179ee999 100644
--- a/src/unix/loop.c
+++ b/src/unix/loop.c
@@ -217,6 +217,14 @@ int uv__loop_configure(uv_loop_t* loop, uv_loop_option option, va_list ap) {
     return 0;
   }
 
+#if defined(__linux__)
+  if (option == UV_LOOP_USE_IO_URING_SQPOLL) {
+    loop->flags |= UV_LOOP_ENABLE_IO_URING_SQPOLL;
+    return 0;
+  }
+#endif
+
+
   if (option != UV_LOOP_BLOCK_SIGNAL)
     return UV_ENOSYS;