diff --git a/pkg/controller/persistentvolume/persistentvolume_controller.go b/pkg/controller/persistentvolume/persistentvolume_controller.go
index 988cce6b27a..3cf1c4627d6 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/persistentvolume/persistentvolume_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/persistentvolume/persistentvolume_controller.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package persistentvolume
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api"
@@ -93,6 +94,19 @@ type PersistentVolumeController struct {
 	kubeClient             clientset.Interface
 	eventRecorder          record.EventRecorder
 	cloud                  cloudprovider.Interface
+
+	// PersistentVolumeController keeps track of long running operations and
+	// makes sure it won't start the same operation twice in parallel.
+	// Each operation is identified by unique operationName.
+	// Simple keymutex.KeyMutex is not enough, we need to know what operations
+	// are in progress (so we don't schedule a new one) and keymutex.KeyMutex
+	// does not provide such functionality.
+
+	// runningOperationsMapLock guards access to runningOperations map
+	runningOperationsMapLock sync.Mutex
+	// runningOperations is map of running operations. The value does not
+	// matter, presence of a key is enough to consider an operation running.
+	runningOperations map[string]bool
 }
 
 // NewPersistentVolumeController creates a new PersistentVolumeController
@@ -108,9 +122,10 @@ func NewPersistentVolumeController(
 	recorder := broadcaster.NewRecorder(api.EventSource{Component: "persistentvolume-controller"})
 
 	controller := &PersistentVolumeController{
-		kubeClient:    kubeClient,
-		eventRecorder: recorder,
-		cloud:         cloud,
+		kubeClient:        kubeClient,
+		eventRecorder:     recorder,
+		runningOperations: make(map[string]bool),
+		cloud:             cloud,
 	}
 
 	volumeSource := &cache.ListWatch{
@@ -998,6 +1013,52 @@ func (ctrl *PersistentVolumeController) reclaimVolume(volume *api.PersistentVolu
 	return nil
 }
 
+// scheduleOperation starts given asynchronous operation on given volume. It
+// makes sure the operation is already not running.
+func (ctrl *PersistentVolumeController) scheduleOperation(operationName string, operation func(arg interface{}), arg interface{}) {
+	glog.V(4).Infof("scheduleOperation[%s]", operationName)
+
+	isRunning := func() bool {
+		// In anonymous func() to get the locking right.
+		ctrl.runningOperationsMapLock.Lock()
+		defer ctrl.runningOperationsMapLock.Unlock()
+
+		if ctrl.isOperationRunning(operationName) {
+			glog.V(4).Infof("operation %q is already running, skipping", operationName)
+			return true
+		}
+		ctrl.startRunningOperation(operationName)
+		return false
+	}()
+
+	if isRunning {
+		return
+	}
+
+	// Run the operation in separate goroutine
+	go func() {
+		glog.V(4).Infof("scheduleOperation[%s]: running the operation", operationName)
+		operation(arg)
+
+		ctrl.runningOperationsMapLock.Lock()
+		defer ctrl.runningOperationsMapLock.Unlock()
+		ctrl.finishRunningOperation(operationName)
+	}()
+}
+
+func (ctrl *PersistentVolumeController) isOperationRunning(operationName string) bool {
+	_, found := ctrl.runningOperations[operationName]
+	return found
+}
+
+func (ctrl *PersistentVolumeController) finishRunningOperation(operationName string) {
+	delete(ctrl.runningOperations, operationName)
+}
+
+func (ctrl *PersistentVolumeController) startRunningOperation(operationName string) {
+	ctrl.runningOperations[operationName] = true
+}
+
 // Stateless functions
 
 func hasAnnotation(obj api.ObjectMeta, ann string) bool {