diff --git a/nova/__init__.py b/nova/__init__.py
index 21403ab570ac..228c89d33dce 100644
--- a/nova/__init__.py
+++ b/nova/__init__.py
@@ -27,4 +27,9 @@ import os
 
 os.environ['EVENTLET_NO_GREENDNS'] = 'yes'
 
+# NOTE(rpodolyaka): import oslo_service first, so that it makes eventlet hub
+# use a monotonic clock to avoid issues with drifts of system time (see
+# LP 1510234 for details)
+import oslo_service  # noqa
+
 import eventlet  # noqa
diff --git a/nova/service.py b/nova/service.py
index 0621aeab3a45..a04a2e96d559 100644
--- a/nova/service.py
+++ b/nova/service.py
@@ -95,6 +95,17 @@ def setup_profiler(binary, host):
         LOG.info(_LI("OSProfiler is enabled."))
 
 
+def assert_eventlet_uses_monotonic_clock():
+    import eventlet.hubs as hubs
+    import monotonic
+
+    hub = hubs.get_hub()
+    if hub.clock is not monotonic.monotonic:
+        raise RuntimeError(
+            'eventlet hub is not using a monotonic clock - '
+            'periodic tasks will be affected by drifts of system time.')
+
+
 class Service(service.Service):
     """Service object for binaries running on hosts.
 
@@ -141,6 +152,8 @@ class Service(service.Service):
         This includes starting an RPC service, initializing
         periodic tasks, etc.
         """
+        assert_eventlet_uses_monotonic_clock()
+
         verstr = version.version_string_with_package()
         LOG.info(_LI('Starting %(topic)s node (version %(version)s)'),
                   {'topic': self.topic, 'version': verstr})