diff --git a/zuul/executor/server.py b/zuul/executor/server.py
index af2e7e9c1e..b37a82e9e2 100644
--- a/zuul/executor/server.py
+++ b/zuul/executor/server.py
@@ -513,6 +513,21 @@ class ExecutorMergeWorker(gear.TextWorker):
             super(ExecutorMergeWorker, self).handleNoop(packet)
 
 
+class ExecutorExecuteWorker(gear.TextWorker):
+    def __init__(self, executor_server, *args, **kw):
+        self.zuul_executor_server = executor_server
+        super(ExecutorExecuteWorker, self).__init__(*args, **kw)
+
+    def handleNoop(self, packet):
+        # Delay our response to running a new job based on the number
+        # of jobs we're currently running, in an attempt to spread
+        # load evenly among executors.
+        workers = len(self.zuul_executor_server.job_workers)
+        delay = (workers ** 2) / 1000.0
+        time.sleep(delay)
+        return super(ExecutorExecuteWorker, self).handleNoop(packet)
+
+
 class ExecutorServer(object):
     log = logging.getLogger("zuul.ExecutorServer")
 
@@ -612,7 +627,8 @@ class ExecutorServer(object):
         ssl_ca = get_default(self.config, 'gearman', 'ssl_ca')
         self.merger_worker = ExecutorMergeWorker(self, 'Zuul Executor Merger')
         self.merger_worker.addServer(server, port, ssl_key, ssl_cert, ssl_ca)
-        self.executor_worker = gear.TextWorker('Zuul Executor Server')
+        self.executor_worker = ExecutorExecuteWorker(
+            self, 'Zuul Executor Server')
         self.executor_worker.addServer(server, port, ssl_key, ssl_cert, ssl_ca)
         self.log.debug("Waiting for server")
         self.merger_worker.waitForServer()