diff --git a/python/ray/_raylet.pyx b/python/ray/_raylet.pyx
index 86cdfebee..1caa49707 100644
--- a/python/ray/_raylet.pyx
+++ b/python/ray/_raylet.pyx
@@ -528,11 +528,14 @@ cdef CRayStatus task_execution_handler(
 cdef void async_plasma_callback(CObjectID object_id,
                                 int64_t data_size,
                                 int64_t metadata_size) with gil:
-    message = [tuple([ObjectID(object_id.Binary()), data_size, metadata_size])]
     core_worker = ray.worker.global_worker.core_worker
     event_handler = core_worker.get_plasma_event_handler()
     if event_handler is not None:
-        event_handler.process_notifications(message)
+        obj_id = ObjectID(object_id.Binary())
+        if data_size > 0 and obj_id:
+            # This must be asynchronous to allow objects to avoid blocking the IO thread.
+            event_handler._loop.call_soon_threadsafe(
+                event_handler._complete_future, obj_id)
 
 cdef CRayStatus check_signals() nogil:
     with gil:
diff --git a/python/ray/experimental/async_plasma.py b/python/ray/experimental/async_plasma.py
index 5e127dc1b..a43670bd9 100644
--- a/python/ray/experimental/async_plasma.py
+++ b/python/ray/experimental/async_plasma.py
@@ -10,23 +10,6 @@ class PlasmaObjectFuture(asyncio.Future):
     pass
 
 
-def _complete_future(event_handler, ray_object_id):
-    # TODO(ilr): Consider race condition between popping from the
-    # waiting_dict and as_future appending to the waiting_dict's list.
-    logger.debug(
-        "Completing plasma futures for object id {}".format(ray_object_id))
-    obj = event_handler._worker.get_objects([ray_object_id], timeout=0)[0]
-    futures = event_handler._waiting_dict.pop(ray_object_id)
-    for fut in futures:
-        try:
-            fut.set_result(obj)
-        except asyncio.InvalidStateError:
-            # Avoid issues where process_notifications
-            # and check_immediately both get executed
-            logger.debug("Failed to set result for future {}."
-                         "Most likely already set.".format(fut))
-
-
 class PlasmaEventHandler:
     """This class is an event handler for Plasma."""
 
@@ -36,15 +19,23 @@ class PlasmaEventHandler:
         self._worker = worker
         self._waiting_dict = defaultdict(list)
 
-    def process_notifications(self, messages):
-        """Process notifications."""
-        for object_id, object_size, metadata_size in messages:
-            if object_size > 0 and object_id in self._waiting_dict:
-                # This must be asynchronous because it runs on the main IO
-                # thread in the worker. If this is blocked, other messages
-                # won't be received.
-                self._loop.call_soon_threadsafe(_complete_future, self,
-                                                object_id)
+    def _complete_future(self, ray_object_id):
+        # TODO(ilr): Consider race condition between popping from the
+        # waiting_dict and as_future appending to the waiting_dict's list.
+        logger.debug(
+            "Completing plasma futures for object id {}".format(ray_object_id))
+        if ray_object_id not in self._waiting_dict:
+            return
+        obj = self._worker.get_objects([ray_object_id], timeout=0)[0]
+        futures = self._waiting_dict.pop(ray_object_id)
+        for fut in futures:
+            try:
+                fut.set_result(obj)
+            except asyncio.InvalidStateError:
+                # Avoid issues where process_notifications
+                # and check_immediately both get executed
+                logger.debug("Failed to set result for future {}."
+                             "Most likely already set.".format(fut))
 
     def close(self):
         """Clean up this handler."""
@@ -55,7 +46,7 @@ class PlasmaEventHandler:
     def check_immediately(self, object_id):
         ready, _ = ray.wait([object_id], timeout=0)
         if ready:
-            _complete_future(self, object_id)
+            self._complete_future(object_id)
 
     def as_future(self, object_id, check_ready=True):
         """Turn an object_id into a Future object.