diff --git a/heat/engine/resources/openstack/heat/resource_chain.py b/heat/engine/resources/openstack/heat/resource_chain.py
index 317148a80f..9cadc78ce6 100644
--- a/heat/engine/resources/openstack/heat/resource_chain.py
+++ b/heat/engine/resources/openstack/heat/resource_chain.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ from heat.engine import properties
 from heat.engine.resources import stack_resource
 from heat.engine import rsrc_defn
 from heat.engine import support
+from heat.objects import service as service_objects
 from heat.scaling import template as scl_template
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -118,12 +119,19 @@ class ResourceChain(stack_resource.StackResource):
         resource_types = self.properties[self.RESOURCES]
         resource_names = self._resource_names(resource_types)
         name_def_tuples = []
+        # Impose a concurrency limit if concurrent is set. This minimizes the
+        # memory usage when the chain contains lots of resources, but it keeps
+        # performance to a reasonable level.
+        concurrency_limit = service_objects.Service.active_service_count(
+            self.context) or 1
         for index, rt in enumerate(resource_types):
             name = resource_names[index]
 
             depends_on = None
             if index > 0 and not self.properties[self.CONCURRENT]:
                 depends_on = [resource_names[index - 1]]
+            elif index >= concurrency_limit:
+                depends_on = [resource_names[index - concurrency_limit]]
 
             t = (name, self._build_resource_definition(name, rt,
                                                        depends_on=depends_on))
diff --git a/heat/objects/service.py b/heat/objects/service.py
index f5b1a92750..416e9081c2 100644
--- a/heat/objects/service.py
+++ b/heat/objects/service.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 from oslo_versionedobjects import base
 from oslo_versionedobjects import fields
 
+from heat.common import service_utils
 from heat.db.sqlalchemy import api as db_api
 from heat.objects import base as heat_base
 
@@ -89,3 +90,10 @@ class Service(
                                            host,
                                            binary,
                                            hostname))
+
+    @classmethod
+    def active_service_count(cls, context):
+        """Return the number of services reportedly active."""
+        return len([
+            svc for svc in cls.get_all(context)
+            if service_utils.format_service(svc)['status'] == 'up'])
diff --git a/heat/tests/openstack/heat/test_resource_chain.py b/heat/tests/openstack/heat/test_resource_chain.py
index 282500c499..d2899fc256 100644
--- a/heat/tests/openstack/heat/test_resource_chain.py
+++ b/heat/tests/openstack/heat/test_resource_chain.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from heat.common import exception
 from heat.engine import node_data
 from heat.engine.resources.openstack.heat import resource_chain
 from heat.engine import rsrc_defn
+from heat.objects import service as service_objects
 from heat.tests import common
 from heat.tests import utils
 
@@ -69,12 +70,14 @@ class ResourceChainTest(common.HeatTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(RESOURCE_PROPERTIES, resource['properties'])
         self.assertEqual(['0'], resource['depends_on'])
 
-    def test_child_template_with_concurrent(self):
+    @mock.patch.object(service_objects.Service, 'active_service_count')
+    def test_child_template_with_concurrent(self, mock_count):
 
         # Setup
         tmpl_def = copy.deepcopy(TEMPLATE)
         tmpl_def['resources']['test-chain']['properties']['concurrent'] = True
         chain = self._create_chain(tmpl_def)
+        mock_count.return_value = 5
 
         # Test
         child_template = chain.child_template()
@@ -89,6 +92,32 @@ class ResourceChainTest(common.HeatTestCase):
         resource = tmpl['resources']['1']
         self.assertNotIn('depends_on', resource)
 
+    @mock.patch.object(service_objects.Service, 'active_service_count')
+    def test_child_template_with_concurrent_limit(self, mock_count):
+
+        tmpl_def = copy.deepcopy(TEMPLATE)
+        tmpl_def['resources']['test-chain']['properties']['concurrent'] = True
+        tmpl_def['resources']['test-chain']['properties']['resources'] = [
+            'OS::Heat::SoftwareConfig', 'OS::Heat::StructuredConfig',
+            'OS::Heat::SoftwareConfig', 'OS::Heat::StructuredConfig']
+        chain = self._create_chain(tmpl_def)
+        mock_count.return_value = 2
+
+        child_template = chain.child_template()
+
+        tmpl = child_template.t
+        resource = tmpl['resources']['0']
+        self.assertNotIn('depends_on', resource)
+
+        resource = tmpl['resources']['1']
+        self.assertNotIn('depends_on', resource)
+
+        resource = tmpl['resources']['2']
+        self.assertEqual(['0'], resource['depends_on'])
+
+        resource = tmpl['resources']['3']
+        self.assertEqual(['1'], resource['depends_on'])
+
     def test_child_template_default_concurrent(self):
         # Setup
         tmpl_def = copy.deepcopy(TEMPLATE)