diff --git a/src/libcamera/pipeline/raspberrypi/data/example.yaml b/src/libcamera/pipeline/raspberrypi/data/example.yaml
index 421f30e62aa3..04a117f38ada 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/pipeline/raspberrypi/data/example.yaml
+++ b/src/libcamera/pipeline/raspberrypi/data/example.yaml
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@
 
                 # Override any request from the IPA to drop a number of startup
                 # frames.
-                "disable_startup_frame_drops": false
+                "disable_startup_frame_drops": false,
+
+                # Always process a pending request with the last captured sensor
+                # frame.  Note that this might lead to avoidable frame drops
+                # during periods of transient heavy CPU loading.
+                "return_newest_frames": false
         }
 }
diff --git a/src/libcamera/pipeline/raspberrypi/raspberrypi.cpp b/src/libcamera/pipeline/raspberrypi/raspberrypi.cpp
index 4f15bcf0052a..68c70cc19995 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/pipeline/raspberrypi/raspberrypi.cpp
+++ b/src/libcamera/pipeline/raspberrypi/raspberrypi.cpp
@@ -313,6 +313,11 @@ public:
 		 * frames.
 		 */
 		bool disableStartupFrameDrops;
+		/*
+		 * Always process a pending request with the last captured sensor
+		 * frame.
+		 */
+		bool returnNewestFrames;
 	};
 
 	Config config_;
@@ -1712,6 +1717,7 @@ int RPiCameraData::configurePipeline()
 		.minUnicamBuffers = 2,
 		.minTotalUnicamBuffers = 4,
 		.disableStartupFrameDrops = false,
+		.returnNewestFrames = false,
 	};
 
 	char const *configFromEnv = utils::secure_getenv("LIBCAMERA_RPI_CONFIG_FILE");
@@ -1747,6 +1753,8 @@ int RPiCameraData::configurePipeline()
 		phConfig["min_total_unicam_buffers"].get<unsigned int>(config_.minTotalUnicamBuffers);
 	config_.disableStartupFrameDrops =
 		phConfig["disable_startup_frame_drops"].get<bool>(config_.disableStartupFrameDrops);
+	config_.returnNewestFrames =
+		phConfig["return_newest_frames"].get<bool>(config_.returnNewestFrames);
 
 	if (config_.minTotalUnicamBuffers < config_.minUnicamBuffers) {
 		LOG(RPI, Error) << "Invalid configuration: min_total_unicam_buffers must be >= min_unicam_buffers";
@@ -2326,6 +2334,21 @@ bool RPiCameraData::findMatchingBuffers(BayerFrame &bayerFrame, FrameBuffer *&em
 	if (bayerQueue_.empty())
 		return false;
 
+	/*
+	 * If the pipeline is configured to only ever return the most recently
+	 * captured frame, empty the buffer queue until a single element is
+	 * left, corresponding to the most recent buffer. Note that this will
+	 * likely result in possibly avoidable dropped frames.
+	 */
+	if (config_.returnNewestFrames && !unicam_[Unicam::Image].isExternal()) {
+		while (bayerQueue_.size() > 1) {
+			FrameBuffer *bayer = bayerQueue_.front().buffer;
+
+			unicam_[Unicam::Image].returnBuffer(bayer);
+			bayerQueue_.pop();
+		}
+	}
+
 	/*
 	 * Find the embedded data buffer with a matching timestamp to pass to
 	 * the IPA. Any embedded buffers with a timestamp lower than the