Try the first() function List::Util. Its like grep but returns as soon as it finds the first match.

% perldoc List::Util

first BLOCK LIST
           Similar to "grep" in that it evaluates BLOCK setting $_ to 
+each
           element of LIST in turn. "first" returns the first element 
+where
           the result from BLOCK is a true value. If BLOCK never retur
+ns true
           or LIST was empty then "undef" is returned.

               $foo = first { defined($_) } @list    # first defined v
+alue in @list
               $foo = first { $_ > $value } @list    # first value in 
+@list which
                                                     # is greater than
+ $value
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