diff --git a/python/ray/actor.py b/python/ray/actor.py
index a28dcb969..b7499a95f 100644
--- a/python/ray/actor.py
+++ b/python/ray/actor.py
@@ -13,7 +13,12 @@ import ray.local_scheduler
 import ray.ray_constants as ray_constants
 import ray.signature as signature
 import ray.worker
-from ray.utils import _random_string, is_cython, push_error_to_driver
+from ray.utils import (
+    _random_string,
+    check_oversized_pickle,
+    is_cython,
+    push_error_to_driver,
+)
 
 DEFAULT_ACTOR_METHOD_NUM_RETURN_VALS = 1
 
@@ -393,19 +398,8 @@ def export_actor_class(class_id, Class, actor_method_names,
         "actor_method_names": json.dumps(list(actor_method_names))
     }
 
-    if (len(actor_class_info["class"]) >
-            ray_constants.PICKLE_OBJECT_WARNING_SIZE):
-        warning_message = ("Warning: The actor {} has size {} when pickled. "
-                           "It will be stored in Redis, which could cause "
-                           "memory issues. This may mean that the actor "
-                           "definition uses a large array or other object."
-                           .format(actor_class_info["class_name"],
-                                   len(actor_class_info["class"])))
-        ray.utils.push_error_to_driver(
-            worker,
-            ray_constants.PICKLING_LARGE_OBJECT_PUSH_ERROR,
-            warning_message,
-            driver_id=worker.task_driver_id.id())
+    check_oversized_pickle(actor_class_info["class"],
+                           actor_class_info["class_name"], "actor", worker)
 
     if worker.mode is None:
         # This means that 'ray.init()' has not been called yet and so we must
diff --git a/python/ray/utils.py b/python/ray/utils.py
index 5f51b6f24..db19f69bb 100644
--- a/python/ray/utils.py
+++ b/python/ray/utils.py
@@ -268,3 +268,28 @@ def merge_dicts(d1, d2):
     d = d1.copy()
     d.update(d2)
     return d
+
+
+def check_oversized_pickle(pickled, name, obj_type, worker):
+    """Send a warning message if the pickled object is too large.
+
+    Args:
+        pickled: the pickled object.
+        name: name of the pickled object.
+        obj_type: type of the pickled object, can be 'function',
+            'remote function', 'actor', or 'object'.
+        worker: the worker used to send warning message.
+    """
+    length = len(pickled)
+    if length <= ray_constants.PICKLE_OBJECT_WARNING_SIZE:
+        return
+    warning_message = (
+        "Warning: The {} {} has size {} when pickled. "
+        "It will be stored in Redis, which could cause memory issues. "
+        "This may mean that its definition uses a large array or other object."
+    ).format(obj_type, name, length)
+    push_error_to_driver(
+        worker,
+        ray_constants.PICKLING_LARGE_OBJECT_PUSH_ERROR,
+        warning_message,
+        driver_id=worker.task_driver_id.id())
diff --git a/python/ray/worker.py b/python/ray/worker.py
index 266d3e48e..a0f72aa9d 100644
--- a/python/ray/worker.py
+++ b/python/ray/worker.py
@@ -30,7 +30,12 @@ import ray.signature
 import ray.local_scheduler
 import ray.plasma
 import ray.ray_constants as ray_constants
-from ray.utils import random_string, binary_to_hex, is_cython
+from ray.utils import (
+    binary_to_hex,
+    check_oversized_pickle,
+    is_cython,
+    random_string,
+)
 
 SCRIPT_MODE = 0
 WORKER_MODE = 1
@@ -653,18 +658,8 @@ class Worker(object):
             else:
                 del function.__globals__[function.__name__]
 
-        if len(pickled_function) > ray_constants.PICKLE_OBJECT_WARNING_SIZE:
-            warning_message = ("Warning: The remote function {} has size {} "
-                               "when pickled. It will be stored in Redis, "
-                               "which could cause memory issues. This may "
-                               "mean that the function definition uses a "
-                               "large array or other object.".format(
-                                   function_name, len(pickled_function)))
-            ray.utils.push_error_to_driver(
-                self,
-                ray_constants.PICKLING_LARGE_OBJECT_PUSH_ERROR,
-                warning_message,
-                driver_id=self.task_driver_id.id())
+        check_oversized_pickle(pickled_function, function_name,
+                               "remote function", self)
 
         self.redis_client.hmset(
             key, {
@@ -714,20 +709,8 @@ class Worker(object):
                 # we don't need to export it again.
                 return
 
-            if (len(pickled_function) >
-                    ray_constants.PICKLE_OBJECT_WARNING_SIZE):
-                warning_message = ("Warning: The function {} has size {} when "
-                                   "pickled. It will be stored in Redis, "
-                                   "which could cause memory issues. This may "
-                                   "mean that the remote function definition "
-                                   "uses a large array or other object."
-                                   .format(function.__name__,
-                                           len(pickled_function)))
-                ray.utils.push_error_to_driver(
-                    self,
-                    ray_constants.PICKLING_LARGE_OBJECT_PUSH_ERROR,
-                    warning_message,
-                    driver_id=self.task_driver_id.id())
+            check_oversized_pickle(pickled_function, function.__name__,
+                                   "function", self)
 
             # Run the function on all workers.
             self.redis_client.hmset(