diff --git a/core/invoker/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/containerpool/ContainerPool.scala b/core/invoker/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/containerpool/ContainerPool.scala
index 4327ad160fb..92f058bf1fe 100644
--- a/core/invoker/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/containerpool/ContainerPool.scala
+++ b/core/invoker/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/containerpool/ContainerPool.scala
@@ -125,9 +125,12 @@ class ContainerPool(childFactory: ActorRefFactory => ActorRef,
           //remove from resent tracking - it may get resent again, or get processed
           resent = None
         }
+        val kind = r.action.exec.kind
+        val memory = r.action.limits.memory.megabytes.MB
+
         val createdContainer =
           // Is there enough space on the invoker for this action to be executed.
-          if (hasPoolSpaceFor(busyPool, r.action.limits.memory.megabytes.MB)) {
+          if (hasPoolSpaceFor(busyPool ++ prewarmedPool, memory)) {
             // Schedule a job to a warm container
             ContainerPool
               .schedule(r.action, r.msg.user.namespace.name, freePool)
@@ -136,12 +139,12 @@ class ContainerPool(childFactory: ActorRefFactory => ActorRef,
                 // There was no warm/warming/warmingCold container. Try to take a prewarm container or a cold container.
 
                 // Is there enough space to create a new container or do other containers have to be removed?
-                if (hasPoolSpaceFor(busyPool ++ freePool, r.action.limits.memory.megabytes.MB)) {
+                if (hasPoolSpaceFor(busyPool ++ freePool ++ prewarmedPool, memory)) {
                   takePrewarmContainer(r.action)
                     .map(container => (container, "prewarmed"))
                     .orElse {
-                      val container = Some(createContainer(r.action.limits.memory.megabytes.MB), "cold")
-                      incrementColdStartCount(r.action.exec.kind, r.action.limits.memory.megabytes.MB)
+                      val container = Some(createContainer(memory), "cold")
+                      incrementColdStartCount(kind, memory)
                       container
                     }
                 } else None)
@@ -158,8 +161,8 @@ class ContainerPool(childFactory: ActorRefFactory => ActorRef,
                     takePrewarmContainer(r.action)
                       .map(container => (container, "recreatedPrewarm"))
                       .getOrElse {
-                        val container = (createContainer(r.action.limits.memory.megabytes.MB), "recreated")
-                        incrementColdStartCount(r.action.exec.kind, r.action.limits.memory.megabytes.MB)
+                        val container = (createContainer(memory), "recreated")
+                        incrementColdStartCount(kind, memory)
                         container
                     }))
 
diff --git a/tests/src/test/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/containerpool/test/ContainerPoolTests.scala b/tests/src/test/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/containerpool/test/ContainerPoolTests.scala
index 63930fef799..3fd04143c06 100644
--- a/tests/src/test/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/containerpool/test/ContainerPoolTests.scala
+++ b/tests/src/test/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/containerpool/test/ContainerPoolTests.scala
@@ -329,9 +329,8 @@ class ContainerPoolTests
     val feed = TestProbe()
 
     val pool =
-      system.actorOf(
-        ContainerPool
-          .props(factory, poolConfig(MemoryLimit.STD_MEMORY), feed.ref, List(PrewarmingConfig(1, exec, memoryLimit))))
+      system.actorOf(ContainerPool
+        .props(factory, poolConfig(MemoryLimit.STD_MEMORY * 2), feed.ref, List(PrewarmingConfig(1, exec, memoryLimit))))
     containers(0).expectMsg(Start(exec, memoryLimit))
     containers(0).send(pool, NeedWork(preWarmedData(exec.kind)))
     pool ! runMessage
@@ -365,7 +364,7 @@ class ContainerPoolTests
       ContainerPool
         .props(
           factory,
-          poolConfig(MemoryLimit.STD_MEMORY),
+          poolConfig(MemoryLimit.STD_MEMORY * 2),
           feed.ref,
           List(PrewarmingConfig(1, alternativeExec, memoryLimit))))
     containers(0).expectMsg(Start(alternativeExec, memoryLimit)) // container0 was prewarmed
@@ -385,7 +384,7 @@ class ContainerPoolTests
         ContainerPool
           .props(
             factory,
-            poolConfig(MemoryLimit.STD_MEMORY),
+            poolConfig(MemoryLimit.STD_MEMORY * 2),
             feed.ref,
             List(PrewarmingConfig(1, exec, alternativeLimit))))
     containers(0).expectMsg(Start(exec, alternativeLimit)) // container0 was prewarmed