However, they had to withstand a spirited second half comeback from the visitors who, without ever really threatening the lead, did enough to keep Gloucester honest.
Ultimately, the home side's endeavours in the first half were enough to secure the win with a powerful performance from the pack backed up by some lively backs moves.
Half time changes and the inevitable disruption to the side's momentum slowed things up slightly but Gloucester's second try killed the game and Wasps' comeback was too little too late.
Gloucester tried from the off to move the ball around and put some width on the game and stretched the Wasps defence on more than one occasion.
Dan Robson looked lively at scrum half and Tim Taylor was easing himself nicely back into action behind a pack who were delivery plenty of quality ball.
However, Wasps were nothing if not combative and restricted the home side to three Taylor penalties and could have had a couple of their own but for Seb Jewell missing two eminently kickable attempts.
The visitors defence was breached, however, on 32 minutes when lock Tom Savage thundered onto a flat pass in midfield and powered his way over near the posts. Taylor converted and Gloucester looked comfortable at 16-0.
Needing to consolidate and make it to half time without further mishap, Wasps were dealt a further blow when scrum half Jonah Holmes was sinbinned on the advice of the assistant referee.
Wasps did in fact make it to half time unscathed but were quickly under pressure again and it came as no surprise when Gloucester worked an overlap for replacement Sam Meakin to score unopposed. Taylor added the extras.
Wasps did show some fight and a powerful break from centre Phil McKenzie looked to have put Seb Jewell in for Wasps' first score only to be called back for a forward pass.
It was a good spell for the visitors and a yellow card for Lotti Molitika put Gloucester on the back foot and they had to doggedly defend their own line to keep Wasps at bay.
The initial danger seemed to have been repelled but an alert Alex Fann swooped on a loose Gloucester heel at a set scrum leading to a close range position from which flanker Joe Burton drove over the line. Elliott Daly converted to reduce the gap to 23-7.
Wasps had only arrived with four replacements but kept going admirably and were only denied a second try when Sam Northcote-Green knocked on in the shadow of the posts after a smark break from McKenzie.
However, Wasps lock Joe Launchbury pounced on a loose ball from the ensuing Gloucester scrum and fought his way over the line to make the score 23-12.
That was it for the scoring although Matt Betty did seem to have scored Gloucester's third on the stroke of full time but was ruled to have knocked the ball on as he dived onto a chip ahead.
