diff --git a/primitives/consensus/common/Cargo.toml b/primitives/consensus/common/Cargo.toml
index a6f8c01928d96..e8eaa06ee005f 100644
--- a/primitives/consensus/common/Cargo.toml
+++ b/primitives/consensus/common/Cargo.toml
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ prometheus-endpoint = { package = "substrate-prometheus-endpoint", path = "../..
 wasm-timer = "0.2.4"
 
 [dev-dependencies]
+futures = "0.3.4"
 sp-test-primitives = { version = "2.0.0", path = "../../test-primitives" }
 
 [features]
diff --git a/primitives/consensus/common/src/import_queue/basic_queue.rs b/primitives/consensus/common/src/import_queue/basic_queue.rs
index 77cb49abf5e06..ea0ca2cf3ee88 100644
--- a/primitives/consensus/common/src/import_queue/basic_queue.rs
+++ b/primitives/consensus/common/src/import_queue/basic_queue.rs
@@ -36,8 +36,10 @@ use crate::{
 /// Interface to a basic block import queue that is importing blocks sequentially in a separate
 /// task, with plugable verification.
 pub struct BasicQueue<B: BlockT, Transaction> {
-	/// Channel to send messages to the background task.
-	sender: TracingUnboundedSender<ToWorkerMsg<B>>,
+	/// Channel to send finality work messages to the background task.
+	finality_sender: TracingUnboundedSender<worker_messages::Finality<B>>,
+	/// Channel to send block import messages to the background task.
+	block_import_sender: TracingUnboundedSender<worker_messages::ImportBlocks<B>>,
 	/// Results coming from the worker task.
 	result_port: BufferedLinkReceiver<B>,
 	_phantom: PhantomData<Transaction>,
@@ -46,7 +48,8 @@ pub struct BasicQueue<B: BlockT, Transaction> {
 impl<B: BlockT, Transaction> Drop for BasicQueue<B, Transaction> {
 	fn drop(&mut self) {
 		// Flush the queue and close the receiver to terminate the future.
-		self.sender.close_channel();
+		self.finality_sender.close_channel();
+		self.block_import_sender.close_channel();
 		self.result_port.close();
 	}
 }
@@ -65,12 +68,16 @@ impl<B: BlockT, Transaction: Send + 'static> BasicQueue<B, Transaction> {
 		prometheus_registry: Option<&Registry>,
 	) -> Self {
 		let (result_sender, result_port) = buffered_link::buffered_link();
-		let metrics = prometheus_registry.and_then(|r|
+
+		let metrics = prometheus_registry.and_then(|r| {
 			Metrics::register(r)
-			.map_err(|err| { log::warn!("Failed to register Prometheus metrics: {}", err); })
-			.ok()
-		);
-		let (future, worker_sender) = BlockImportWorker::new(
+				.map_err(|err| {
+					log::warn!("Failed to register Prometheus metrics: {}", err);
+				})
+				.ok()
+		});
+
+		let (future, finality_sender, block_import_sender) = BlockImportWorker::new(
 			result_sender,
 			verifier,
 			block_import,
@@ -82,7 +89,8 @@ impl<B: BlockT, Transaction: Send + 'static> BasicQueue<B, Transaction> {
 		spawner.spawn_blocking("basic-block-import-worker", future.boxed());
 
 		Self {
-			sender: worker_sender,
+			finality_sender,
+			block_import_sender,
 			result_port,
 			_phantom: PhantomData,
 		}
@@ -96,7 +104,9 @@ impl<B: BlockT, Transaction: Send> ImportQueue<B> for BasicQueue<B, Transaction>
 		}
 
 		trace!(target: "sync", "Scheduling {} blocks for import", blocks.len());
-		let res = self.sender.unbounded_send(ToWorkerMsg::ImportBlocks(origin, blocks));
+		let res =
+			self.block_import_sender.unbounded_send(worker_messages::ImportBlocks(origin, blocks));
+
 		if res.is_err() {
 			log::error!(
 				target: "sync",
@@ -110,12 +120,12 @@ impl<B: BlockT, Transaction: Send> ImportQueue<B> for BasicQueue<B, Transaction>
 		who: Origin,
 		hash: B::Hash,
 		number: NumberFor<B>,
-		justification: Justification
+		justification: Justification,
 	) {
-		let res = self.sender
-			.unbounded_send(
-				ToWorkerMsg::ImportJustification(who, hash, number, justification)
-			);
+		let res = self.finality_sender.unbounded_send(
+			worker_messages::Finality::ImportJustification(who, hash, number, justification),
+		);
+
 		if res.is_err() {
 			log::error!(
 				target: "sync",
@@ -132,10 +142,10 @@ impl<B: BlockT, Transaction: Send> ImportQueue<B> for BasicQueue<B, Transaction>
 		finality_proof: Vec<u8>,
 	) {
 		trace!(target: "sync", "Scheduling finality proof of {}/{} for import", number, hash);
-		let res = self.sender
-			.unbounded_send(
-				ToWorkerMsg::ImportFinalityProof(who, hash, number, finality_proof)
-			);
+		let res = self.finality_sender.unbounded_send(
+			worker_messages::Finality::ImportFinalityProof(who, hash, number, finality_proof),
+		);
+
 		if res.is_err() {
 			log::error!(
 				target: "sync",
@@ -151,12 +161,16 @@ impl<B: BlockT, Transaction: Send> ImportQueue<B> for BasicQueue<B, Transaction>
 	}
 }
 
-/// Message destinated to the background worker.
-#[derive(Debug)]
-enum ToWorkerMsg<B: BlockT> {
-	ImportBlocks(BlockOrigin, Vec<IncomingBlock<B>>),
-	ImportJustification(Origin, B::Hash, NumberFor<B>, Justification),
-	ImportFinalityProof(Origin, B::Hash, NumberFor<B>, Vec<u8>),
+/// Messages destinated to the background worker.
+mod worker_messages {
+	use super::*;
+
+	pub struct ImportBlocks<B: BlockT>(pub BlockOrigin, pub Vec<IncomingBlock<B>>);
+
+	pub enum Finality<B: BlockT> {
+		ImportJustification(Origin, B::Hash, NumberFor<B>, Justification),
+		ImportFinalityProof(Origin, B::Hash, NumberFor<B>, Vec<u8>),
+	}
 }
 
 struct BlockImportWorker<B: BlockT, Transaction> {
@@ -176,8 +190,18 @@ impl<B: BlockT, Transaction: Send> BlockImportWorker<B, Transaction> {
 		justification_import: Option<BoxJustificationImport<B>>,
 		finality_proof_import: Option<BoxFinalityProofImport<B>>,
 		metrics: Option<Metrics>,
-	) -> (impl Future<Output = ()> + Send, TracingUnboundedSender<ToWorkerMsg<B>>) {
-		let (sender, mut port) = tracing_unbounded("mpsc_block_import_worker");
+	) -> (
+		impl Future<Output = ()> + Send,
+		TracingUnboundedSender<worker_messages::Finality<B>>,
+		TracingUnboundedSender<worker_messages::ImportBlocks<B>>,
+	) {
+		use worker_messages::*;
+
+		let (finality_sender, mut finality_port) =
+			tracing_unbounded("mpsc_import_queue_worker_finality");
+
+		let (block_import_sender, mut block_import_port) =
+			tracing_unbounded("mpsc_import_queue_worker_blocks");
 
 		let mut worker = BlockImportWorker {
 			result_sender,
@@ -206,6 +230,8 @@ impl<B: BlockT, Transaction: Send> BlockImportWorker<B, Transaction> {
 		//   `Future`, and `block_import` is `None`.
 		// - Something else, in which case `block_import` is `Some` and `importing` is None.
 		//
+		// Additionally, the task will prioritize processing of finality work messages over
+		// block import messages, hence why two distinct channels are used.
 		let mut block_import_verifier = Some((block_import, verifier));
 		let mut importing = None;
 
@@ -217,7 +243,30 @@ impl<B: BlockT, Transaction: Send> BlockImportWorker<B, Transaction> {
 					return Poll::Ready(())
 				}
 
-				// If we are in the process of importing a bunch of block, let's resume this
+				// Grab the next finality action request sent to the import queue.
+				let finality_work = match Stream::poll_next(Pin::new(&mut finality_port), cx) {
+					Poll::Ready(Some(msg)) => Some(msg),
+					Poll::Ready(None) => return Poll::Ready(()),
+					Poll::Pending => None,
+				};
+
+				match finality_work {
+					Some(Finality::ImportFinalityProof(who, hash, number, proof)) => {
+						let (_, verif) = block_import_verifier
+							.as_mut()
+							.expect("block_import_verifier is always Some; qed");
+
+						worker.import_finality_proof(verif, who, hash, number, proof);
+						continue;
+					}
+					Some(Finality::ImportJustification(who, hash, number, justification)) => {
+						worker.import_justification(who, hash, number, justification);
+						continue;
+					}
+					None => {}
+				}
+
+				// If we are in the process of importing a bunch of blocks, let's resume this
 				// process before doing anything more.
 				if let Some(imp_fut) = importing.as_mut() {
 					match Future::poll(Pin::new(imp_fut), cx) {
@@ -232,34 +281,25 @@ impl<B: BlockT, Transaction: Send> BlockImportWorker<B, Transaction> {
 				debug_assert!(importing.is_none());
 				debug_assert!(block_import_verifier.is_some());
 
-				// Grab the next action request sent to the import queue.
-				let msg = match Stream::poll_next(Pin::new(&mut port), cx) {
-					Poll::Ready(Some(msg)) => msg,
-					Poll::Ready(None) => return Poll::Ready(()),
-					Poll::Pending => return Poll::Pending,
-				};
+				// Grab the next block import request sent to the import queue.
+				let ImportBlocks(origin, blocks) =
+					match Stream::poll_next(Pin::new(&mut block_import_port), cx) {
+						Poll::Ready(Some(msg)) => msg,
+						Poll::Ready(None) => return Poll::Ready(()),
+						Poll::Pending => return Poll::Pending,
+					};
 
-				match msg {
-					ToWorkerMsg::ImportBlocks(origin, blocks) => {
-						// On blocks import request, we merely *start* the process and store
-						// a `Future` into `importing`.
-						let (bi, verif) = block_import_verifier.take()
-							.expect("block_import_verifier is always Some; qed");
-						importing = Some(worker.import_batch(bi, verif, origin, blocks));
-					},
-					ToWorkerMsg::ImportFinalityProof(who, hash, number, proof) => {
-						let (_, verif) = block_import_verifier.as_mut()
-							.expect("block_import_verifier is always Some; qed");
-						worker.import_finality_proof(verif, who, hash, number, proof);
-					},
-					ToWorkerMsg::ImportJustification(who, hash, number, justification) => {
-						worker.import_justification(who, hash, number, justification);
-					}
-				}
+				// On blocks import request, we merely *start* the process and store
+				// a `Future` into `importing`.
+				let (block_import, verifier) = block_import_verifier
+					.take()
+					.expect("block_import_verifier is always Some; qed");
+
+				importing = Some(worker.import_batch(block_import, verifier, origin, blocks));
 			}
 		});
 
-		(future, sender)
+		(future, finality_sender, block_import_sender)
 	}
 
 	/// Returns a `Future` that imports the given blocks and sends the results on
@@ -363,12 +403,11 @@ fn import_many_blocks<B: BlockT, V: Verifier<B>, Transaction>(
 	Output = (
 		usize,
 		usize,
-		Vec<(Result<BlockImportResult<NumberFor<B>>, BlockImportError>, B::Hash,)>,
+		Vec<(Result<BlockImportResult<NumberFor<B>>, BlockImportError>, B::Hash)>,
 		BoxBlockImport<B, Transaction>,
-		V
-	)
->
-{
+		V,
+	),
+> {
 	let count = blocks.len();
 
 	let blocks_range = match (
@@ -461,3 +500,187 @@ fn import_many_blocks<B: BlockT, V: Verifier<B>, Transaction>(
 		Poll::Pending
 	})
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+	use super::*;
+	use crate::{
+		import_queue::{CacheKeyId, Verifier},
+		BlockCheckParams, BlockImport, BlockImportParams, ImportResult, JustificationImport,
+	};
+	use futures::{executor::block_on, Future};
+	use sp_test_primitives::{Block, BlockNumber, Extrinsic, Hash, Header};
+	use std::collections::HashMap;
+
+	impl Verifier<Block> for () {
+		fn verify(
+			&mut self,
+			origin: BlockOrigin,
+			header: Header,
+			_justification: Option<Justification>,
+			_body: Option<Vec<Extrinsic>>,
+		) -> Result<(BlockImportParams<Block, ()>, Option<Vec<(CacheKeyId, Vec<u8>)>>), String> {
+			Ok((BlockImportParams::new(origin, header), None))
+		}
+	}
+
+	impl BlockImport<Block> for () {
+		type Error = crate::Error;
+		type Transaction = Extrinsic;
+
+		fn check_block(
+			&mut self,
+			_block: BlockCheckParams<Block>,
+		) -> Result<ImportResult, Self::Error> {
+			Ok(ImportResult::imported(false))
+		}
+
+		fn import_block(
+			&mut self,
+			_block: BlockImportParams<Block, Self::Transaction>,
+			_cache: HashMap<CacheKeyId, Vec<u8>>,
+		) -> Result<ImportResult, Self::Error> {
+			Ok(ImportResult::imported(true))
+		}
+	}
+
+	impl JustificationImport<Block> for () {
+		type Error = crate::Error;
+
+		fn import_justification(
+			&mut self,
+			_hash: Hash,
+			_number: BlockNumber,
+			_justification: Justification,
+		) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
+			Ok(())
+		}
+	}
+
+	#[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
+	enum Event {
+		JustificationImported(Hash),
+		BlockImported(Hash),
+	}
+
+	#[derive(Default)]
+	struct TestLink {
+		events: Vec<Event>,
+	}
+
+	impl Link<Block> for TestLink {
+		fn blocks_processed(
+			&mut self,
+			_imported: usize,
+			_count: usize,
+			results: Vec<(Result<BlockImportResult<BlockNumber>, BlockImportError>, Hash)>,
+		) {
+			if let Some(hash) = results.into_iter().find_map(|(r, h)| r.ok().map(|_| h)) {
+				self.events.push(Event::BlockImported(hash));
+			}
+		}
+
+		fn justification_imported(
+			&mut self,
+			_who: Origin,
+			hash: &Hash,
+			_number: BlockNumber,
+			_success: bool,
+		) {
+			self.events.push(Event::JustificationImported(hash.clone()))
+		}
+	}
+
+	#[test]
+	fn prioritizes_finality_work_over_block_import() {
+		let (result_sender, mut result_port) = buffered_link::buffered_link();
+
+		let (mut worker, mut finality_sender, mut block_import_sender) =
+			BlockImportWorker::new(result_sender, (), Box::new(()), Some(Box::new(())), None, None);
+
+		let mut import_block = |n| {
+			let header = Header {
+				parent_hash: Hash::random(),
+				number: n,
+				extrinsics_root: Hash::random(),
+				state_root: Default::default(),
+				digest: Default::default(),
+			};
+
+			let hash = header.hash();
+
+			block_on(block_import_sender.send(worker_messages::ImportBlocks(
+				BlockOrigin::Own,
+				vec![IncomingBlock {
+					hash,
+					header: Some(header),
+					body: None,
+					justification: None,
+					origin: None,
+					allow_missing_state: false,
+					import_existing: false,
+				}],
+			)))
+			.unwrap();
+
+			hash
+		};
+
+		let mut import_justification = || {
+			let hash = Hash::random();
+
+			block_on(finality_sender.send(worker_messages::Finality::ImportJustification(
+				libp2p::PeerId::random(),
+				hash,
+				1,
+				Vec::new(),
+			)))
+			.unwrap();
+
+			hash
+		};
+
+		let mut link = TestLink::default();
+
+		// we send a bunch of tasks to the worker
+		let block1 = import_block(1);
+		let block2 = import_block(2);
+		let block3 = import_block(3);
+		let justification1 = import_justification();
+		let justification2 = import_justification();
+		let block4 = import_block(4);
+		let block5 = import_block(5);
+		let block6 = import_block(6);
+		let justification3 = import_justification();
+
+		// we poll the worker until we have processed 9 events
+		block_on(futures::future::poll_fn(|cx| {
+			while link.events.len() < 9 {
+				match Future::poll(Pin::new(&mut worker), cx) {
+					Poll::Pending => {}
+					Poll::Ready(()) => panic!("import queue worker should not conclude."),
+				}
+
+				result_port.poll_actions(cx, &mut link).unwrap();
+			}
+
+			Poll::Ready(())
+		}));
+
+		// all justification tasks must be done before any block import work
+		assert_eq!(
+			link.events,
+			vec![
+				Event::JustificationImported(justification1),
+				Event::JustificationImported(justification2),
+				Event::JustificationImported(justification3),
+				Event::BlockImported(block1),
+				Event::BlockImported(block2),
+				Event::BlockImported(block3),
+				Event::BlockImported(block4),
+				Event::BlockImported(block5),
+				Event::BlockImported(block6),
+			]
+		);
+	}
+}