diff --git a/tests/fixtures/config/job-pause-priority/git/common-config/zuul.yaml b/tests/fixtures/config/job-pause-priority/git/common-config/zuul.yaml
index a07342e2ec..1480b90051 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/config/job-pause-priority/git/common-config/zuul.yaml
+++ b/tests/fixtures/config/job-pause-priority/git/common-config/zuul.yaml
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
     name: check
     manager: independent
     post-review: true
+    precedence: high
     trigger:
       gerrit:
         - event: patchset-created
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_v3.py b/tests/unit/test_v3.py
index c0c5d6c565..075f77611a 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_v3.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_v3.py
@@ -5265,7 +5265,7 @@ class TestJobPausePriority(AnsibleZuulTestCase):
 
         reqs = self.fake_nodepool.getNodeRequests()
         self.assertEqual(len(reqs), 1)
-        self.assertEqual(reqs[0]['_oid'], '200-0000000000')
+        self.assertEqual(reqs[0]['_oid'], '100-0000000000')
         self.assertEqual(reqs[0]['provider'], None)
 
         self.fake_nodepool.unpause()
@@ -5280,7 +5280,7 @@ class TestJobPausePriority(AnsibleZuulTestCase):
                 break
 
         self.assertEqual(len(reqs), 1)
-        self.assertEqual(reqs[0]['_oid'], '199-0000000001')
+        self.assertEqual(reqs[0]['_oid'], '099-0000000001')
         self.assertEqual(reqs[0]['provider'], 'test-provider')
 
         self.fake_nodepool.unpause()
diff --git a/zuul/zk.py b/zuul/zk.py
index d35a5df1ac..433fc983fe 100644
--- a/zuul/zk.py
+++ b/zuul/zk.py
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ class ZooKeeper(object):
         node_request.created_time = time.time()
         data = node_request.toDict()
 
-        path = '%s/%s-' % (self.REQUEST_ROOT, node_request.priority)
+        path = '{}/{:0>3}-'.format(self.REQUEST_ROOT, node_request.priority)
         path = self.client.create(path, self._dictToStr(data),
                                   makepath=True,
                                   sequence=True, ephemeral=True)