diff --git a/senlin/db/api.py b/senlin/db/api.py
index a6a08477f..88d52ae22 100644
--- a/senlin/db/api.py
+++ b/senlin/db/api.py
@@ -384,6 +384,10 @@ def action_acquire_random_ready(context, owner, timestamp):
     return IMPL.action_acquire_random_ready(context, owner, timestamp)
 
 
+def action_acquire_first_ready(context, owner, timestamp):
+    return IMPL.action_acquire_first_ready(context, owner, timestamp)
+
+
 def action_abandon(context, action_id, values=None):
     return IMPL.action_abandon(context, action_id, values)
 
diff --git a/senlin/db/sqlalchemy/api.py b/senlin/db/sqlalchemy/api.py
index b2b8b3d4e..1dcf12309 100644
--- a/senlin/db/sqlalchemy/api.py
+++ b/senlin/db/sqlalchemy/api.py
@@ -1217,6 +1217,31 @@ def action_acquire_random_ready(context, owner, timestamp):
             return action
 
 
+def _action_acquire_ready(session, owner, timestamp, order=None):
+    action = session.query(models.Action).\
+        filter_by(status=consts.ACTION_READY).\
+        filter_by(owner=None).\
+        order_by(order or func.random()).\
+        with_for_update().first()
+
+    if action:
+        action.owner = owner
+        action.start_time = timestamp
+        action.status = consts.ACTION_RUNNING
+        action.status_reason = _('The action is being processed.')
+        action.save(session)
+
+    return action
+
+
+@oslo_db_api.wrap_db_retry(max_retries=3, retry_on_deadlock=True,
+                           retry_interval=0.5, inc_retry_interval=True)
+def action_acquire_first_ready(context, owner, timestamp):
+    with session_for_write() as session:
+        return _action_acquire_ready(session, owner, timestamp,
+                                     consts.ACTION_CREATED_AT)
+
+
 def action_abandon(context, action_id, values=None):
     '''Abandon an action for other workers to execute again.
 
diff --git a/senlin/objects/action.py b/senlin/objects/action.py
index a258885fe..e6fcc14ea 100644
--- a/senlin/objects/action.py
+++ b/senlin/objects/action.py
@@ -129,6 +129,10 @@ class Action(base.SenlinObject, base.VersionedObjectDictCompat):
     def acquire_random_ready(cls, context, owner, timestamp):
         return db_api.action_acquire_random_ready(context, owner, timestamp)
 
+    @classmethod
+    def acquire_first_ready(cls, context, owner, timestamp):
+        return db_api.action_acquire_first_ready(context, owner, timestamp)
+
     @classmethod
     def abandon(cls, context, action_id, values=None):
         return db_api.action_abandon(context, action_id, values)
diff --git a/senlin/tests/unit/db/test_action_api.py b/senlin/tests/unit/db/test_action_api.py
index dee53774a..e75e18621 100644
--- a/senlin/tests/unit/db/test_action_api.py
+++ b/senlin/tests/unit/db/test_action_api.py
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@
 # License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
 
+import six
 import time
 
-import six
-
+from oslo_utils import timeutils as tu
 from senlin.common import consts
 from senlin.common import exception
 from senlin.db.sqlalchemy import api as db_api
@@ -156,6 +156,37 @@ class DBAPIActionTest(base.SenlinTestCase):
         retobj = db_api.action_get(new_ctx, action.id, project_safe=False)
         self.assertIsNotNone(retobj)
 
+    def test_acquire_first_ready_none(self):
+        data = {'created_at': tu.utcnow(True)}
+
+        _create_action(self.ctx, **data)
+        result = db_api.action_acquire_first_ready(self.ctx, 'fake_o',
+                                                   tu.utcnow(True))
+        self.assertIsNone(result)
+
+    def test_acquire_first_ready_one(self):
+        data = {'created_at': tu.utcnow(True)}
+        _create_action(self.ctx, **data)
+
+        result = db_api.action_acquire_first_ready(self.ctx, 'fake_o',
+                                                   tu.utcnow(True))
+        self.assertIsNone(result)
+
+    def test_acquire_first_ready_mult(self):
+        data = {
+            'created_at': tu.utcnow(True),
+            'status': 'READY',
+        }
+        action1 = _create_action(self.ctx, **data)
+        time.sleep(1)
+
+        data['created_at'] = tu.utcnow(True)
+        _create_action(self.ctx, **data)
+
+        result = db_api.action_acquire_first_ready(self.ctx, 'fake_o',
+                                                   time.time())
+        self.assertEqual(action1.id, result.id)
+
     def test_action_acquire_random_ready(self):
         specs = [
             {'name': 'A01', 'status': 'INIT'},
@@ -171,6 +202,7 @@ class DBAPIActionTest(base.SenlinTestCase):
         timestamp = time.time()
         action = db_api.action_acquire_random_ready(self.ctx, worker,
                                                     timestamp)
+
         self.assertIn(action.name, ('A02', 'A04'))
         self.assertEqual('worker2', action.owner)
         self.assertEqual(consts.ACTION_RUNNING, action.status)