diff --git a/awx/main/tasks.py b/awx/main/tasks.py
index f4e8a6ea4c..d8fa4a88c0 100644
--- a/awx/main/tasks.py
+++ b/awx/main/tasks.py
@@ -435,53 +435,59 @@ def awx_isolated_heartbeat():
 
 @task()
 def awx_periodic_scheduler():
-    run_now = now()
-    state = TowerScheduleState.get_solo()
-    last_run = state.schedule_last_run
-    logger.debug("Last scheduler run was: %s", last_run)
-    state.schedule_last_run = run_now
-    state.save()
+    with advisory_lock('awx_periodic_scheduler_lock', wait=False) as acquired:
+        if acquired is False:
+            logger.debug("Not running periodic scheduler, another task holds lock")
+            return
+        logger.debug("Starting periodic scheduler")
 
-    old_schedules = Schedule.objects.enabled().before(last_run)
-    for schedule in old_schedules:
-        schedule.save()
-    schedules = Schedule.objects.enabled().between(last_run, run_now)
+        run_now = now()
+        state = TowerScheduleState.get_solo()
+        last_run = state.schedule_last_run
+        logger.debug("Last scheduler run was: %s", last_run)
+        state.schedule_last_run = run_now
+        state.save()
 
-    invalid_license = False
-    try:
-        access_registry[Job](None).check_license()
-    except PermissionDenied as e:
-        invalid_license = e
+        old_schedules = Schedule.objects.enabled().before(last_run)
+        for schedule in old_schedules:
+            schedule.save()
+        schedules = Schedule.objects.enabled().between(last_run, run_now)
 
-    for schedule in schedules:
-        template = schedule.unified_job_template
-        schedule.save() # To update next_run timestamp.
-        if template.cache_timeout_blocked:
-            logger.warn("Cache timeout is in the future, bypassing schedule for template %s" % str(template.id))
-            continue
+        invalid_license = False
         try:
-            job_kwargs = schedule.get_job_kwargs()
-            new_unified_job = schedule.unified_job_template.create_unified_job(**job_kwargs)
-            logger.info('Spawned {} from schedule {}-{}.'.format(
-                new_unified_job.log_format, schedule.name, schedule.pk))
+            access_registry[Job](None).check_license()
+        except PermissionDenied as e:
+            invalid_license = e
 
-            if invalid_license:
+        for schedule in schedules:
+            template = schedule.unified_job_template
+            schedule.save() # To update next_run timestamp.
+            if template.cache_timeout_blocked:
+                logger.warn("Cache timeout is in the future, bypassing schedule for template %s" % str(template.id))
+                continue
+            try:
+                job_kwargs = schedule.get_job_kwargs()
+                new_unified_job = schedule.unified_job_template.create_unified_job(**job_kwargs)
+                logger.info(six.text_type('Spawned {} from schedule {}-{}.').format(
+                    new_unified_job.log_format, schedule.name, schedule.pk))
+
+                if invalid_license:
+                    new_unified_job.status = 'failed'
+                    new_unified_job.job_explanation = str(invalid_license)
+                    new_unified_job.save(update_fields=['status', 'job_explanation'])
+                    new_unified_job.websocket_emit_status("failed")
+                    raise invalid_license
+                can_start = new_unified_job.signal_start()
+            except Exception:
+                logger.exception('Error spawning scheduled job.')
+                continue
+            if not can_start:
                 new_unified_job.status = 'failed'
-                new_unified_job.job_explanation = str(invalid_license)
+                new_unified_job.job_explanation = "Scheduled job could not start because it was not in the right state or required manual credentials"
                 new_unified_job.save(update_fields=['status', 'job_explanation'])
                 new_unified_job.websocket_emit_status("failed")
-                raise invalid_license
-            can_start = new_unified_job.signal_start()
-        except Exception:
-            logger.exception('Error spawning scheduled job.')
-            continue
-        if not can_start:
-            new_unified_job.status = 'failed'
-            new_unified_job.job_explanation = "Scheduled job could not start because it was not in the right state or required manual credentials"
-            new_unified_job.save(update_fields=['status', 'job_explanation'])
-            new_unified_job.websocket_emit_status("failed")
-        emit_channel_notification('schedules-changed', dict(id=schedule.id, group_name="schedules"))
-    state.save()
+            emit_channel_notification('schedules-changed', dict(id=schedule.id, group_name="schedules"))
+        state.save()
 
 
 @task()