diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/ntp-config-51ed9d612132e2fa.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/ntp-config-51ed9d612132e2fa.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..772c30e45f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/ntp-config-51ed9d612132e2fa.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    This fixes the issue with NTP configuration where a prefered server
+    provided by the user is added to the end of the file and the defaults
+    are not deleted. Here we add the prefered server to the top of the file.
diff --git a/sahara/service/ntp_service.py b/sahara/service/ntp_service.py
index 053e3b69c9..d65840e55f 100644
--- a/sahara/service/ntp_service.py
+++ b/sahara/service/ntp_service.py
@@ -78,8 +78,8 @@ def _configure_ntp_on_instance(instance, url):
                 LOG.warning("Unable to configure NTP service")
                 return
 
-            r.append_to_file(
-                "/etc/ntp.conf", "server {url}".format(url=url),
+            r.prepend_to_file(
+                "/etc/ntp.conf", "server {url} iburst\n".format(url=url),
                 run_as_root=True)
             _restart_ntp(r)
             try:
diff --git a/sahara/service/ops.py b/sahara/service/ops.py
index cb1264b572..101215f8e5 100644
--- a/sahara/service/ops.py
+++ b/sahara/service/ops.py
@@ -298,6 +298,7 @@ def _provision_cluster(cluster_id):
     cluster = conductor.cluster_get(ctx, cluster_id)
     context.set_step_type(_("Engine: create cluster"))
     INFRA.create_cluster(cluster)
+    ntp_service.configure_ntp(cluster_id)
 
     # configure cluster
     cluster = c_u.change_cluster_status(
@@ -309,7 +310,6 @@ def _provision_cluster(cluster_id):
     plugin.configure_cluster(cluster)
 
     # starting prepared and configured cluster
-    ntp_service.configure_ntp(cluster_id)
     cluster = c_u.change_cluster_status(
         cluster, c_u.CLUSTER_STATUS_STARTING)
 
diff --git a/sahara/tests/unit/service/test_ntp_service.py b/sahara/tests/unit/service/test_ntp_service.py
index 7a9d2ffe3b..838add7fb6 100644
--- a/sahara/tests/unit/service/test_ntp_service.py
+++ b/sahara/tests/unit/service/test_ntp_service.py
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ class FakeRemote(object):
     def append_to_file(self, file, text, run_as_root=False):
         return self.execute_command(file, run_as_root)
 
+    def prepend_to_file(self, file, text, run_as_root=False):
+        return self.execute_command(file, run_as_root)
+
     def get_os_distrib(self):
         return self.execute_command('get_os_distrib')
 
diff --git a/sahara/utils/ssh_remote.py b/sahara/utils/ssh_remote.py
index c03dbf2c10..c734fae87d 100644
--- a/sahara/utils/ssh_remote.py
+++ b/sahara/utils/ssh_remote.py
@@ -301,6 +301,19 @@ def _append_file(sftp, remote_file, data, run_as_root):
         _append_fl(sftp, remote_file, data)
 
 
+def _prepend_file(sftp, remote_file, data, run_as_root):
+    if run_as_root:
+        temp_file = 'temp-file-%s' % uuidutils.generate_uuid()
+        temp_remote_file = 'temp-remote-file-%s' % uuidutils.generate_uuid()
+        _write_fl(sftp, temp_file, data)
+        _execute_command(
+            'cat %s > %s' % (remote_file, temp_remote_file))
+        _execute_command(
+            'cat %s %s > %s' % (
+                temp_file, temp_remote_file, remote_file), run_as_root=True)
+        _execute_command('rm -f %s %s' % (temp_file, temp_remote_file))
+
+
 def _write_file_to(remote_file, data, run_as_root=False):
     global _ssh
 
@@ -331,6 +344,21 @@ def _append_to_files(files, run_as_root=False):
         _append_file(sftp, fl, data, run_as_root)
 
 
+def _prepend_to_file(remote_file, data, run_as_root=False):
+    global _ssh
+
+    _prepend_file(_ssh.open_sftp(), remote_file, data, run_as_root)
+
+
+def _prepend_to_files(files, run_as_root=False):
+    global _ssh
+
+    sftp = _ssh.open_sftp()
+
+    for fl, data in six.iteritems(files):
+        _prepend_file(sftp, fl, data, run_as_root)
+
+
 def _read_file(sftp, remote_file):
     fl = sftp.file(remote_file, 'r')
     data = fl.read()
@@ -878,6 +906,12 @@ class InstanceInteropHelper(remote.Remote):
         self._log_command(description)
         self._run_s(_append_to_files, timeout, description, files, run_as_root)
 
+    def prepend_to_file(self, r_file, data, run_as_root=False, timeout=None):
+        description = _('Prepending to file "%s"') % r_file
+        self._log_command(description)
+        self._run_s(_prepend_to_file, timeout, description,
+                    r_file, data, run_as_root)
+
     def read_file_from(self, remote_file, run_as_root=False, timeout=None):
         description = _('Reading file "%s"') % remote_file
         self._log_command(description)