Gloucester flanker Akapusi Qera (left) tussles with Warren Fury of Wasps
Dave Walder notched 19 points to help Wasps fend off a Gloucester fightback and keep their play-off bid on course.
Walder, selected at fly-half ahead of Danny Cipriani, landed three penalties and converted his own try as the home side led 16-6 at the break.
Gloucester levelled the contest thanks to a converted Mike Tindall try and a Tim Taylor penalty.
But Walder kicked Wasps into the lead again before winger David Lemi went over to seal the victory.
The victory lifts Wasps to fourth in the table, level on points with London Irish, who lost away at Leicester.
Seventh-placed Gloucester are seventh, 11 points off the play-off positions.
Wasps director of rugby Tony Hanks:
"We kept our composure when things got tight and we've done very well to be in this position given the size of the squad available between injuries and guys away on Test duties.
"That try showed why we brought David Lemi here and we are getting used to each other with every game. We are learning where and when to give him the ball and he's growing into the team.
"We now get a week off, then return to face a big six weeks, starting with a trip up to Sale to face a team who are fairly desperate to get away from the bottom."
Gloucester head coach Bryan Redpath:
"I think I was more disappointed with the first-half performance than losing the game late on.
"Our discipline was average, our game poor because we coughed up possession, gifted them penalties and lacked impact.
"When you play away you have to be smart and adapt to the referee, which we failed to do. We gave away penalties in a row for similar offences."
Replacements: Molenaar for Tindall (66), Robinson for Taylor (45), R. Lawson for A. Williams (47), Dickinson for Wood (66), S. Lawson for Azam (51), Doran-Jones for Capdevielle (66), Eustace for James (66).
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