Shane Geraghty gets to grips with Gloucester's Mike Tindall
Northampton claimed their second Guinness Premiership win of the season with a fine victory at Kingsholm.
Saints took an early lead through Soane Tonga'uiha's converted try and Bruce Reihana added a penalty to give the visitors an early 10-0 advantage.
The hosts replied with a Nicky Robinson penalty and an Akapusi Qera try before two penalties by Robinson and three from Shane Geraghty made it 19-14.
After the break Jon Clarke crossed for the Saints and Reihana added a penalty.
Northampton's England hopeful Geraghty ran the show at fly-half against a Gloucester side who went into the game on the back of last week's 40-10 hammering at London Irish.
Saints, rare winners away from home in the Premiership, made a lively start and went ahead inside eight minutes.
Neat inter-play between the tight forwards resulted in Tonga'uiha being freed by his fellow prop Santiago Bonorino and he powered over for a try that Geraghty converted.
A 50m Reihana penalty extended Northampton's lead before Gloucester finally got on the board through Robinson's penalty and a try that owed everything to giant wing Lesley Vainikolo's trademark power.
He charged through a retreating Saints midfield, and the supporting Robinson had the simple task of sending Qera in at the corner.
With both sides regularly conceding penalties, the final 15 minutes of a lively first half were dominated by the boots of Geraghty and Robinson, giving Saints a 19-14 lead at half-time.
Northampton dominated the third quarter and a slashing break from Geraghty paved the way for a second Saints try, this time scored by Clarke.
The visitors added a second penalty from Reihana and although Gloucester battered away at Northampton's defence in the closing stages, the Saints held firm.
Gloucester head coach Bryan Redpath:
"No-one can bury their heads - we've got to stick together.
"I will be very honest with the players. I won't hide any of my thoughts - we weren't good enough, and we cannot hide behind it.
"We have all got to stick our hands up. I am severely disappointed. We conceded some dull penalties and we didn't exert enough pressure.
"Our basics weren't good enough. I don't think Northampton had to do a huge amount to win the game. If you give basic penalties away, you are always chasing your tail.
"Northampton produced a solid defensive performance and we took one or two opportunities out of maybe 10 or 11."
Northampton rugby director Jim Mallinder: "Sometimes when you go away from home it's not about how you play, it's about getting the scores.
"This is a good place to win and defensively in the last 20 minutes I thought we showed a lot of spirit.
"We had the belief and we put in a competitive performance. Our away form last season was poor, so this result is massive for us.
"Shane Geraghty looked good at ten. He showed good decision-making, he defended well and he kicked the ball at the right times."
Replacements: Sharples for Morgan (40), R Lawson for Lewis (57), Azam for S. Lawson (57), Doran-Jones for Somerville (64), Brown for Attwood (51), Strokosch for Buxton (57).
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