diff --git a/mutation_reader.cc b/mutation_reader.cc
index d816470719..8eb89110bf 100644
--- a/mutation_reader.cc
+++ b/mutation_reader.cc
@@ -977,6 +977,9 @@ future<> foreign_reader::fast_forward_to(position_range pr, db::timeout_clock::t
 flat_mutation_reader make_foreign_reader(schema_ptr schema,
             foreign_ptr<std::unique_ptr<flat_mutation_reader>> reader,
             streamed_mutation::forwarding fwd_sm) {
+    if (reader.get_owner_shard() == engine().cpu_id()) {
+        return std::move(*reader);
+    }
     return make_flat_mutation_reader<foreign_reader>(std::move(schema), std::move(reader), fwd_sm);
 }
 
diff --git a/mutation_reader.hh b/mutation_reader.hh
index e2556a6258..0a0d0477ce 100644
--- a/mutation_reader.hh
+++ b/mutation_reader.hh
@@ -381,6 +381,9 @@ stable_flattened_mutations_consumer<FlattenedConsumer> make_stable_flattened_mut
 /// fast_forward_to() a read-ahead (a fill_buffer() on the remote reader) is
 /// issued. This read-ahead runs in the background and is brough back to
 /// foreground on the next fill_buffer() or fast_forward_to() call.
+/// If the reader resides on this shard (the shard where make_foreign_reader()
+/// is called) there is no need to wrap it in foreign_reader, just return it as
+/// is.
 flat_mutation_reader make_foreign_reader(schema_ptr schema,
         foreign_ptr<std::unique_ptr<flat_mutation_reader>> reader,
         streamed_mutation::forwarding fwd_sm = streamed_mutation::forwarding::no);