diff --git a/MANIFEST.in b/MANIFEST.in
index a17ee1f02..24294fd6e 100644
--- a/MANIFEST.in
+++ b/MANIFEST.in
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+recursive-include zaqar *.lua
+
 exclude .gitignore
 exclude .gitreview
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/queues/storage/test_impl_redis.py b/tests/unit/queues/storage/test_impl_redis.py
index ec4dc4f30..1ea834832 100644
--- a/tests/unit/queues/storage/test_impl_redis.py
+++ b/tests/unit/queues/storage/test_impl_redis.py
@@ -175,6 +175,21 @@ class RedisDriverTest(testing.TestBase):
 
         self.assertTrue(isinstance(redis_driver.connection, redis.StrictRedis))
 
+    def test_version_match(self):
+        cache = oslo_cache.get_cache()
+
+        with mock.patch('redis.StrictRedis.info') as info:
+            info.return_value = {'redis_version': '2.4.6'}
+            self.assertRaises(RuntimeError, driver.DataDriver,
+                              self.conf, cache)
+
+            info.return_value = {'redis_version': '2.11'}
+
+            try:
+                driver.DataDriver(self.conf, cache)
+            except RuntimeError:
+                self.fail('version match failed')
+
 
 @testing.requires_redis
 class RedisQueuesTest(base.QueueControllerTest):
diff --git a/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/claims.py b/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/claims.py
index 3941fb09f..b465f41e6 100644
--- a/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/claims.py
+++ b/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/claims.py
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ import functools
 
 import msgpack
 from oslo.utils import timeutils
-import redis
 
 from zaqar.common import decorators
 from zaqar.openstack.common import log as logging
 from zaqar.queues import storage
 from zaqar.queues.storage import errors
 from zaqar.queues.storage.redis import messages
+from zaqar.queues.storage.redis import scripting
 from zaqar.queues.storage.redis import utils
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ RETRY_CLAIM_TIMEOUT = 10
 COUNTING_BATCH_SIZE = 100
 
 
-class ClaimController(storage.Claim):
+class ClaimController(storage.Claim, scripting.Mixin):
     """Implements claim resource operations using Redis.
 
     Redis Data Structures:
@@ -78,6 +78,8 @@ class ClaimController(storage.Claim):
         +----------------+---------+
     """
 
+    script_names = ['claim_messages']
+
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super(ClaimController, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         self._client = self.driver.connection
@@ -100,6 +102,17 @@ class ClaimController(storage.Claim):
         values = self._client.hmget(claim_id, fields)
         return [transform(v) for v in values] if transform else values
 
+    def _claim_messages(self, msgset_key, now, limit,
+                        claim_id, claim_expires, msg_ttl, msg_expires):
+
+        # NOTE(kgriffs): A watch on a pipe could also be used, but that
+        # is less efficient and predictable, based on our experience in
+        # having to do something similar in the MongoDB driver.
+        func = self._scripts['claim_messages']
+
+        args = [now, limit, claim_id, claim_expires, msg_ttl, msg_expires]
+        return func(keys=[msgset_key], args=args)
+
     def _exists(self, queue, claim_id, project):
         client = self._client
         claims_set_key = utils.scope_claims_set(queue, project,
@@ -238,134 +251,60 @@ class ClaimController(storage.Claim):
 
         claim_ttl = int(metadata.get('ttl', 60))
         grace = int(metadata.get('grace', 60))
+
+        now = timeutils.utcnow_ts()
         msg_ttl = claim_ttl + grace
+        claim_expires = now + claim_ttl
+        msg_expires = claim_expires + grace
 
         claim_id = utils.generate_uuid()
-        claim_msgs_key = utils.scope_claim_messages(claim_id,
-                                                    CLAIM_MESSAGES_SUFFIX)
+        claimed_msgs = []
 
-        claims_set_key = utils.scope_claims_set(queue, project,
-                                                QUEUE_CLAIMS_SUFFIX)
+        # NOTE(kgriffs): Claim some messages
+        msgset_key = utils.msgset_key(queue, project)
+        claimed_ids = self._claim_messages(msgset_key, now, limit,
+                                           claim_id, claim_expires,
+                                           msg_ttl, msg_expires)
 
-        with self._client.pipeline() as pipe:
-            # NOTE(kgriffs): Retry the operation if another transaction
-            # completes before this one, in which case it will have
-            # claimed the same messages the current thread is trying
-            # to claim, and therefoe we must try for another batch.
-            #
-            # This loop will eventually time out if we can't manage to
-            # claim any messages due to other threads continually beating
-            # us to the punch.
+        if claimed_ids:
+            claimed_msgs = messages.Message.from_redis_bulk(claimed_ids,
+                                                            self._client)
+            claimed_msgs = [msg.to_basic(now) for msg in claimed_msgs]
 
-            # TODO(kgriffs): Would it be beneficial (or harmful) to
-            # introducce a backoff sleep in between retries?
+            # NOTE(kgriffs): Perist claim records
+            with self._client.pipeline() as pipe:
+                claim_msgs_key = utils.scope_claim_messages(
+                    claim_id, CLAIM_MESSAGES_SUFFIX)
 
-            start_ts = timeutils.utcnow_ts()
-            while (timeutils.utcnow_ts() - start_ts) < RETRY_CLAIM_TIMEOUT:
+                for mid in claimed_ids:
+                    pipe.rpush(claim_msgs_key, mid)
 
-                # NOTE(kgriffs): The algorithm for claiming messages:
+                pipe.expire(claim_msgs_key, claim_ttl)
+
+                claim_info = {
+                    'id': claim_id,
+                    't': claim_ttl,
+                    'e': claim_expires,
+                    'n': len(claimed_ids),
+                }
+
+                pipe.hmset(claim_id, claim_info)
+                pipe.expire(claim_id, claim_ttl)
+
+                # NOTE(kgriffs): Add the claim ID to a set so that
+                # existence checks can be performed quickly. This
+                # is also used as a watch key in order to gaurd
+                # against race conditions.
                 #
-                # 1. Get a batch of messages that are currently active.
-                # 2. For each active message in the batch, extend its
-                #    lifetime IFF it would otherwise expire before the
-                #    claim itself does.
-                # 3. Associate the claim with each message
-                # 4. Create a claim record with details such as TTL
-                #    and expiration time.
-                # 5. Add the claim's ID to a set to facilitate fast
-                #    existence checks.
+                # A sorted set is used to facilitate cleaning
+                # up the IDs of expired claims.
+                claims_set_key = utils.scope_claims_set(queue, project,
+                                                        QUEUE_CLAIMS_SUFFIX)
 
-                try:
-                    # TODO(kgriffs): Is it faster/better to do this all
-                    # in a Lua script instead of using an app-layer
-                    # transaction? Lua requires Redis 2.6 or better.
+                pipe.zadd(claims_set_key, claim_expires, claim_id)
+                pipe.execute()
 
-                    # NOTE(kgriffs): Abort the entire transaction if
-                    # another request beats us to the punch. We detect
-                    # this by putting a watch on the key that will have
-                    # one of its fields updated as the final step of
-                    # the transaction.
-                    #
-                    # No other request to list active messages can
-                    # proceed while this current transaction is in
-                    # progress; therefore, it is not possible for
-                    # a different process to get some active messages
-                    # while the pipeline commands have partway
-                    # completed. Either the other process will query
-                    # for active messages at the same moment as
-                    # the current proc and get the exact same set,
-                    # or its request will have to wait while the
-                    # current process performs the transaction in
-                    # its entirety.
-                    pipe.watch(claims_set_key)
-                    pipe.multi()
-
-                    results = self._message_ctrl._active(
-                        queue, project=project, limit=limit)
-
-                    cursor = next(results)
-                    msg_list = list(cursor)
-                    num_messages = len(msg_list)
-
-                    # NOTE(kgriffs): If there are no active messages to
-                    # claim, simply return an empty list.
-                    if not msg_list:
-                        return (None, iter([]))
-
-                    basic_messages = []
-
-                    now = timeutils.utcnow_ts()
-
-                    claim_expires = now + claim_ttl
-                    msg_expires = claim_expires + grace
-
-                    # Associate the claim with each message
-                    for msg in msg_list:
-                        msg.claim_id = claim_id
-                        msg.claim_expires = claim_expires
-
-                        if _msg_would_expire(msg, msg_expires):
-                            msg.ttl = msg_ttl
-                            msg.expires = msg_expires
-
-                        pipe.rpush(claim_msgs_key, msg.id)
-
-                        # TODO(kgriffs): Rather than writing back the
-                        # entire message, only set the fields that
-                        # have changed.
-                        msg.to_redis(pipe, include_body=False)
-
-                        basic_messages.append(msg.to_basic(now))
-
-                    pipe.expire(claim_msgs_key, claim_ttl)
-
-                    # Create the claim
-                    claim_info = {
-                        'id': claim_id,
-                        't': claim_ttl,
-                        'e': claim_expires,
-                        'n': num_messages,
-                    }
-
-                    pipe.hmset(claim_id, claim_info)
-                    pipe.expire(claim_id, claim_ttl)
-
-                    # NOTE(kgriffs): Add the claim ID to a set so that
-                    # existence checks can be performed quickly. This
-                    # is also used as a watch key in order to gaurd
-                    # against race conditions.
-                    #
-                    # A sorted set is used to facilitate cleaning
-                    # up the IDs of expired claims.
-                    pipe.zadd(claims_set_key, claim_expires, claim_id)
-                    pipe.execute()
-
-                    return claim_id, basic_messages
-
-                except redis.exceptions.WatchError:
-                    continue
-
-        raise errors.ClaimConflict(queue, project)
+        return claim_id, claimed_msgs
 
     @utils.raises_conn_error
     @utils.retries_on_connection_error
diff --git a/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/driver.py b/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/driver.py
index cfa81cf07..91689eae5 100644
--- a/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/driver.py
+++ b/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/driver.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import redis
 from six.moves import urllib
 
 from zaqar.common import decorators
+from zaqar.i18n import _
 from zaqar.openstack.common import log as logging
 from zaqar.queues import storage
 from zaqar.queues.storage.redis import controllers
@@ -51,6 +52,13 @@ class DataDriver(storage.DataDriverBase):
                                 group=options.REDIS_GROUP)
         self.redis_conf = self.conf[options.REDIS_GROUP]
 
+        server_version = self.connection.info()['redis_version']
+        if tuple(map(int, server_version.split('.'))) < (2, 6):
+            msg = _('The Redis driver requires redis-server>=2.6, '
+                    '%s found') % server_version
+
+            raise RuntimeError(msg)
+
     def is_alive(self):
         try:
             return self.connection.ping()
diff --git a/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/messages.py b/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/messages.py
index a7d7fd868..985afdf3d 100644
--- a/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/messages.py
+++ b/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/messages.py
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ Message = models.Message
 MessageEnvelope = models.MessageEnvelope
 
 
-MESSAGE_IDS_SUFFIX = 'messages'
 MSGSET_INDEX_KEY = 'msgset_index'
 
 # The rank counter is an atomic index to rank messages
@@ -112,14 +111,6 @@ class MessageController(storage.Message):
     def _claim_ctrl(self):
         return self.driver.claim_controller
 
-    def _active(self, queue_name, marker=None, echo=False,
-                client_uuid=None, project=None,
-                limit=None):
-        return self._list(queue_name, project=project, marker=marker,
-                          echo=echo, client_uuid=client_uuid,
-                          include_claimed=False,
-                          limit=limit, to_basic=False)
-
     def _count(self, queue, project):
         """Return total number of messages in a queue.
 
@@ -127,22 +118,13 @@ class MessageController(storage.Message):
             they haven't been GC'd yet. This is done for performance.
         """
 
-        msgset_key = utils.scope_message_ids_set(queue, project,
-                                                 MESSAGE_IDS_SUFFIX)
-
-        return self._client.zcard(msgset_key)
+        return self._client.zcard(utils.msgset_key(queue, project))
 
     def _create_msgset(self, queue, project, pipe):
-        msgset_key = utils.scope_message_ids_set(queue, project,
-                                                 MESSAGE_IDS_SUFFIX)
-
-        pipe.zadd(MSGSET_INDEX_KEY, 1, msgset_key)
+        pipe.zadd(MSGSET_INDEX_KEY, 1, utils.msgset_key(queue, project))
 
     def _delete_msgset(self, queue, project, pipe):
-        msgset_key = utils.scope_message_ids_set(queue, project,
-                                                 MESSAGE_IDS_SUFFIX)
-
-        pipe.zrem(MSGSET_INDEX_KEY, msgset_key)
+        pipe.zrem(MSGSET_INDEX_KEY, utils.msgset_key(queue, project))
 
     @utils.raises_conn_error
     @utils.retries_on_connection_error
@@ -154,8 +136,7 @@ class MessageController(storage.Message):
         executing the operation.
         """
         client = self._client
-        msgset_key = utils.scope_message_ids_set(queue, project,
-                                                 MESSAGE_IDS_SUFFIX)
+        msgset_key = utils.msgset_key(queue, project)
         message_ids = client.zrange(msgset_key, 0, -1)
 
         pipe.delete(msgset_key)
@@ -166,8 +147,7 @@ class MessageController(storage.Message):
     def _find_first_unclaimed(self, queue, project, limit):
         """Find the first unclaimed message in the queue."""
 
-        msgset_key = utils.scope_message_ids_set(queue, project,
-                                                 MESSAGE_IDS_SUFFIX)
+        msgset_key = utils.msgset_key(queue, project)
         now = timeutils.utcnow_ts()
 
         # TODO(kgriffs): Generalize this paging pattern (DRY)
@@ -198,8 +178,7 @@ class MessageController(storage.Message):
         Helper function to get the first message in the queue
         sort > 0 get from the left else from the right.
         """
-        msgset_key = utils.scope_message_ids_set(queue, project,
-                                                 MESSAGE_IDS_SUFFIX)
+        msgset_key = utils.msgset_key(queue, project)
 
         zrange = self._client.zrange if sort == 1 else self._client.zrevrange
         message_ids = zrange(msgset_key, 0, 0)
@@ -242,9 +221,7 @@ class MessageController(storage.Message):
             raise errors.QueueDoesNotExist(queue,
                                            project)
 
-        msgset_key = utils.scope_message_ids_set(queue,
-                                                 project,
-                                                 MESSAGE_IDS_SUFFIX)
+        msgset_key = utils.msgset_key(queue, project)
         client = self._client
 
         if not marker and not include_claimed:
@@ -419,9 +396,7 @@ class MessageController(storage.Message):
         if not self._queue_ctrl.exists(queue, project):
             raise errors.QueueDoesNotExist(queue, project)
 
-        msgset_key = utils.scope_message_ids_set(queue, project,
-                                                 MESSAGE_IDS_SUFFIX)
-
+        msgset_key = utils.msgset_key(queue, project)
         counter_key = utils.scope_queue_index(queue, project,
                                               MESSAGE_RANK_COUNTER_SUFFIX)
 
@@ -518,8 +493,8 @@ class MessageController(storage.Message):
 
             raise errors.MessageNotClaimedBy(message_id, claim)
 
-        msgset_key = utils.scope_message_ids_set(queue, project,
-                                                 MESSAGE_IDS_SUFFIX)
+        msgset_key = utils.msgset_key(queue, project)
+
         with self._client.pipeline() as pipe:
             pipe.delete(message_id)
             pipe.zrem(msgset_key, message_id)
@@ -538,8 +513,7 @@ class MessageController(storage.Message):
             raise errors.QueueDoesNotExist(queue,
                                            project)
 
-        msgset_key = utils.scope_message_ids_set(queue, project,
-                                                 MESSAGE_IDS_SUFFIX)
+        msgset_key = utils.msgset_key(queue, project)
 
         with self._client.pipeline() as pipe:
             for mid in message_ids:
diff --git a/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/scripting.py b/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/scripting.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0d343d952
--- /dev/null
+++ b/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/scripting.py
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2014 Rackspace Hosting, Inc.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or
+# implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+import os
+
+from zaqar.common import decorators
+
+
+class Mixin(object):
+    script_names = []
+
+    @decorators.lazy_property(write=False)
+    def _scripts(self):
+        scripts = {}
+
+        for name in self.script_names:
+            script = _read_script(name)
+            scripts[name] = self._client.register_script(script)
+
+        return scripts
+
+
+def _read_script(script_name):
+    folder = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
+    filename = os.path.join(folder, 'scripts', script_name + '.lua')
+
+    with open(filename, 'r') as script_file:
+        return script_file.read()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/scripts/claim_messages.lua b/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/scripts/claim_messages.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fb1d36a3c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/scripts/claim_messages.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+--[[
+
+Copyright (c) 2014 Rackspace Hosting, Inc.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or
+implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+
+--]]
+
+-- Read params
+local msgset_key = KEYS[1]
+
+local now = tonumber(ARGV[1])
+local limit = tonumber(ARGV[2])
+local claim_id = ARGV[3]
+local claim_expires = tonumber(ARGV[4])
+local msg_ttl = tonumber(ARGV[5])
+local msg_expires = tonumber(ARGV[6])
+
+-- Scan for up to 'limit' unclaimed messages
+local BATCH_SIZE = 100
+
+local start = 0
+local claimed_msgs = {}
+
+local found_unclaimed = false
+
+while (#claimed_msgs < limit) do
+    local stop = (start + BATCH_SIZE - 1)
+    local msg_ids = redis.call('ZRANGE', msgset_key, start, stop)
+
+    if (#msg_ids == 0) then
+        break
+    end
+
+    start = start + BATCH_SIZE
+
+    -- TODO(kgriffs): Try moving claimed IDs to a different set
+    -- to avoid scanning through already-claimed messages.
+    for i, mid in ipairs(msg_ids) do
+        -- NOTE(kgriffs): Since execution of this script can not
+        -- happen in parallel, once we find the first unclaimed
+        -- message, the remaining messages will always be
+        -- unclaimed as well.
+
+        if not found_unclaimed then
+            local msg = redis.call('HMGET', mid, 'c', 'c.e')
+
+            if msg[1] == '' or tonumber(msg[2]) <= now then
+                found_unclaimed = true
+            end
+        end
+
+        if found_unclaimed then
+            local msg_expires_prev = redis.call('HGET', mid, 'e')
+
+            -- Found an unclaimed message, so claim it
+            redis.call('HMSET', mid,
+                       'c', claim_id,
+                       'c.e', claim_expires)
+
+            -- Will the message expire early?
+            if tonumber(msg_expires_prev) < msg_expires then
+                redis.call('HMSET', mid,
+                           't', msg_ttl,
+                           'e', msg_expires)
+            end
+
+            claimed_msgs[#claimed_msgs + 1] = mid
+
+            if (#claimed_msgs == limit) then
+                break
+            end
+        end
+    end
+end
+
+return claimed_msgs
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/utils.py b/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/utils.py
index 2f68c0898..d663649cc 100644
--- a/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/utils.py
+++ b/zaqar/queues/storage/redis/utils.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ from zaqar.openstack.common import log as logging
 from zaqar.queues.storage import errors
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+MESSAGE_IDS_SUFFIX = 'messages'
 
 
 def descope_queue_name(scoped_name):
@@ -104,6 +105,10 @@ scope_queue_catalogue = scope_claims_set = scope_message_ids_set
 scope_queue_index = scope_message_ids_set
 
 
+def msgset_key(queue, project=None):
+    return scope_message_ids_set(queue, project, MESSAGE_IDS_SUFFIX)
+
+
 def raises_conn_error(func):
     """Handles the Redis ConnectionFailure error.