Munster ran in three tries to seal a 21-7 victory over bottom-of-the-table Zebre at a drenched Thomond Park.
The visitors were in trouble early after Giulio Bertaccini was sent to the sin-bin in the third minute.
Munster took full advantage, taking the lead when left wing Shane Daly dotted down in the left corner in the seventh minute and JJ Hanrahan added the extras.
Munster held Zebre to just Bautista Stavile's 32nd-minute try, converted by Giacomo da Re.
However, Munster struggled to add to their tally until second-half substitute Alex Kendellen marked his return from injury with a 65th-minute try and Lee Barron added another seven minutes later, Hanrahan converting both.
Munster remain in fourth place with 39 points, one shy of third-placed Cardiff and five behind leaders Glasgow Warriors.
