@@ -361,7 +361,6 @@ func (s *journald) readLogs(logWatcher *logger.LogWatcher, config logger.ReadCon

 		untilUnixMicro = uint64(nano / 1000)

 	}

 	if config.Tail > 0 {

-		lines := config.Tail

 		// If until time provided, start from there.

 		// Otherwise start at the end of the journal.

 		if untilUnixMicro != 0 && C.sd_journal_seek_realtime_usec(j, C.uint64_t(untilUnixMicro)) < 0 {

@@ -371,29 +370,13 @@ func (s *journald) readLogs(logWatcher *logger.LogWatcher, config logger.ReadCon

 			logWatcher.Err <- fmt.Errorf("error seeking to end of journal")

 			return

 		}

-		if C.sd_journal_previous(j) < 0 {

-			logWatcher.Err <- fmt.Errorf("error backtracking to previous journal entry")

-			return

-		}

-		// Walk backward.

-		for lines > 0 {

-			// Stop if the entry time is before our cutoff.

-			// We'll need the entry time if it isn't, so go

-			// ahead and parse it now.

-			if C.sd_journal_get_realtime_usec(j, &stamp) != 0 {

-				break

-			} else {

-				// Compare the timestamp on the entry to our threshold value.

-				if sinceUnixMicro != 0 && sinceUnixMicro > uint64(stamp) {

-					break

-				}

-			}

-			lines--

-			// If we're at the start of the journal, or

-			// don't need to back up past any more entries,

-			// stop.

-			if lines == 0 || C.sd_journal_previous(j) <= 0 {

-				break

+		// (Try to) skip backwards by the requested number of lines...

+		if C.sd_journal_previous_skip(j, C.uint64_t(config.Tail)) > 0 {

+			// ...but not before "since"

+			if sinceUnixMicro != 0 &&

+				C.sd_journal_get_realtime_usec(j, &stamp) == 0 &&

+				uint64(stamp) < sinceUnixMicro {

+				C.sd_journal_seek_realtime_usec(j, C.uint64_t(sinceUnixMicro))

 			}

 		}

 	} else {