diff --git a/python/triton/ops/blocksparse/matmul.py b/python/triton/ops/blocksparse/matmul.py
index 48efe7ea3..ebcea8e1e 100644
--- a/python/triton/ops/blocksparse/matmul.py
+++ b/python/triton/ops/blocksparse/matmul.py
@@ -311,7 +311,10 @@ def dsd_lut(layout, block, step, trans, device):
     header = torch.stack((offsets, segments, col_id, head_id), dim=1).view(-1).contiguous()
     # create increments
     incs = torch.stack((B_incs, A_incs), dim=1).view(-1).contiguous()
-    incs = torch.cat((incs, torch.zeros(2, device=incs.device, dtype=incs.dtype)))
+    # pad by a factor 2*MAX_NUM_STAGES
+    # to accomodate pre-fetching inside the kernel
+    pad = torch.zeros(20, device=incs.device, dtype=incs.dtype)
+    incs = torch.cat((incs, pad))
     # create lut
     lut = torch.cat((header, incs))
     lut = lut.type(torch.int32).to(device)