diff --git a/python/ray/_raylet.pyx b/python/ray/_raylet.pyx
index b3c6dae49..dead48d95 100644
--- a/python/ray/_raylet.pyx
+++ b/python/ray/_raylet.pyx
@@ -1460,7 +1460,7 @@ cdef class CoreWorker:
         object_ids = ObjectRefsToVector(object_refs)
         with nogil:
             check_status(CCoreWorkerProcess.GetCoreWorker()
-                         .ForceSpillObjects(object_ids))
+                         .SpillObjects(object_ids))
 
     def force_restore_spilled_objects(self, object_refs):
         cdef c_vector[CObjectID] object_ids
diff --git a/python/ray/includes/libcoreworker.pxd b/python/ray/includes/libcoreworker.pxd
index a33de9ca8..c2cb1f575 100644
--- a/python/ray/includes/libcoreworker.pxd
+++ b/python/ray/includes/libcoreworker.pxd
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ cdef extern from "ray/core_worker/core_worker.h" nogil:
         CRayStatus SetResource(const c_string &resource_name,
                                const double capacity,
                                const CClientID &client_Id)
-        CRayStatus ForceSpillObjects(const c_vector[CObjectID] &object_ids)
+        CRayStatus SpillObjects(const c_vector[CObjectID] &object_ids)
         CRayStatus ForceRestoreSpilledObjects(
                 const c_vector[CObjectID] &object_ids)
 
diff --git a/python/ray/tests/test_object_spilling.py b/python/ray/tests/test_object_spilling.py
index cce0320ef..2d487bb7b 100644
--- a/python/ray/tests/test_object_spilling.py
+++ b/python/ray/tests/test_object_spilling.py
@@ -107,6 +107,53 @@ def test_spill_objects_manually_with_workers(shutdown_only):
         assert np.array_equal(restored, arr)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "ray_start_cluster_head", [{
+        "num_cpus": 0,
+        "object_store_memory": 75 * 1024 * 1024,
+        "object_spilling_config": {
+            "type": "filesystem",
+            "params": {
+                "directory_path": "/tmp"
+            }
+        },
+        "_internal_config": json.dumps({
+            "object_store_full_max_retries": 0,
+            "max_io_workers": 4,
+        }),
+    }],
+    indirect=True)
+def test_spill_remote_object(ray_start_cluster_head):
+    cluster = ray_start_cluster_head
+    cluster.add_node(
+        object_store_memory=75 * 1024 * 1024,
+        object_spilling_config={
+            "type": "filesystem",
+            "params": {
+                "directory_path": "/tmp"
+            }
+        })
+
+    @ray.remote
+    def put():
+        return np.random.rand(5 * 1024 * 1024)  # 40 MB data
+
+    # Create 2 objects. Only 1 should fit.
+    ref = put.remote()
+    ray.get(ref)
+    with pytest.raises(ray.exceptions.RayTaskError):
+        ray.get(put.remote())
+    time.sleep(1)
+    # Spill 1 object. The second should now fit.
+    ray.experimental.force_spill_objects([ref])
+    ray.get(put.remote())
+
+    # TODO(swang): Restoring from the object directory is not yet supported.
+    # ray.experimental.force_restore_spilled_objects([ref])
+    # sample = ray.get(ref)
+    # assert np.array_equal(sample, copy)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.skip(reason="have not been fully implemented")
 def test_spill_objects_automatically(shutdown_only):
     # Limit our object store to 75 MiB of memory.
diff --git a/src/ray/core_worker/core_worker.cc b/src/ray/core_worker/core_worker.cc
index 48282e486..30d9cbf16 100644
--- a/src/ray/core_worker/core_worker.cc
+++ b/src/ray/core_worker/core_worker.cc
@@ -1174,8 +1174,85 @@ Status CoreWorker::SetResource(const std::string &resource_name, const double ca
   return local_raylet_client_->SetResource(resource_name, capacity, client_id);
 }
 
-Status CoreWorker::ForceSpillObjects(const std::vector<ObjectID> &object_ids) {
-  return local_raylet_client_->ForceSpillObjects(object_ids);
+void CoreWorker::SpillOwnedObject(const ObjectID &object_id,
+                                  const std::shared_ptr<RayObject> &obj,
+                                  std::function<void()> callback) {
+  if (!obj->IsInPlasmaError()) {
+    RAY_LOG(ERROR) << "Cannot spill inlined object " << object_id;
+    callback();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Find the raylet that hosts the primary copy of the object.
+  ClientID pinned_at;
+  RAY_CHECK(reference_counter_->IsPlasmaObjectPinned(object_id, &pinned_at));
+  auto node = gcs_client_->Nodes().Get(pinned_at);
+  if (pinned_at.IsNil() || !node) {
+    RAY_LOG(ERROR) << "Primary raylet for object " << object_id << " unreachable";
+    callback();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Ask the raylet to spill the object.
+  auto raylet_client =
+      std::make_shared<raylet::RayletClient>(rpc::NodeManagerWorkerClient::make(
+          node->node_manager_address(), node->node_manager_port(),
+          *client_call_manager_));
+  raylet_client->RequestObjectSpillage(
+      object_id, [object_id, callback](const Status &status,
+                                       const rpc::RequestObjectSpillageReply &reply) {
+        if (!status.ok() || !reply.success()) {
+          RAY_LOG(ERROR) << "Failed to spill object " << object_id
+                         << ", raylet unreachable or object could not be spilled.";
+        }
+        callback();
+      });
+}
+
+Status CoreWorker::SpillObjects(const std::vector<ObjectID> &object_ids) {
+  auto mutex = std::make_shared<absl::Mutex>();
+  auto num_remaining = std::make_shared<size_t>(object_ids.size());
+  auto ready_promise = std::make_shared<std::promise<void>>(std::promise<void>());
+  Status final_status;
+
+  auto callback = [mutex, num_remaining, ready_promise]() {
+    absl::MutexLock lock(mutex.get());
+    (*num_remaining)--;
+    if (*num_remaining == 0) {
+      ready_promise->set_value();
+    }
+  };
+
+  for (const auto &object_id : object_ids) {
+    RAY_LOG(DEBUG) << "Requesting spill for object " << object_id;
+    // Acquire a temporary reference to make sure that the object is still in
+    // scope by the time we register the callback to spill the object.
+    // Otherwise, the callback may never get called.
+    AddLocalReference(object_id, "<temporary (get object status)>");
+
+    rpc::Address owner_address;
+    auto has_owner = reference_counter_->GetOwner(object_id, &owner_address);
+    if (!has_owner) {
+      final_status =
+          Status::Invalid("Cannot call spill on objects that have gone out of scope.");
+      callback();
+    } else if (WorkerID::FromBinary(owner_address.worker_id()) !=
+               worker_context_.GetWorkerID()) {
+      final_status = Status::Invalid("Cannot call spill on objects that we do not own.");
+      callback();
+    } else {
+      memory_store_->GetAsync(
+          object_id, [this, object_id, callback](std::shared_ptr<RayObject> obj) {
+            SpillOwnedObject(object_id, obj, callback);
+          });
+    }
+
+    // Remove the temporary reference.
+    RemoveLocalReference(object_id);
+  }
+
+  ready_promise->get_future().wait();
+  return final_status;
 }
 
 Status CoreWorker::ForceRestoreSpilledObjects(const std::vector<ObjectID> &object_ids) {
diff --git a/src/ray/core_worker/core_worker.h b/src/ray/core_worker/core_worker.h
index 4fbe30068..387700933 100644
--- a/src/ray/core_worker/core_worker.h
+++ b/src/ray/core_worker/core_worker.h
@@ -586,10 +586,13 @@ class CoreWorker : public rpc::CoreWorkerServiceHandler {
   Status SetResource(const std::string &resource_name, const double capacity,
                      const ClientID &client_id);
 
-  /// Force spilling objects to external storage.
+  /// Request an object to be spilled to external storage.
   /// \param[in] object_ids The objects to be spilled.
-  /// \return Status
-  Status ForceSpillObjects(const std::vector<ObjectID> &object_ids);
+  /// \return Status. Returns Status::Invalid if any of the objects are not
+  /// eligible for spilling (they have gone out of scope or we do not own the
+  /// object). Otherwise, the return status is ok and we will use best effort
+  /// to spill the object.
+  Status SpillObjects(const std::vector<ObjectID> &object_ids);
 
   /// Restore objects from external storage.
   /// \param[in] object_ids The objects to be restored.
@@ -996,6 +999,11 @@ class CoreWorker : public rpc::CoreWorkerServiceHandler {
   /// Handler if a raylet node is removed from the cluster.
   void OnNodeRemoved(const rpc::GcsNodeInfo &node_info);
 
+  /// Request the spillage of an object that we own from the primary that hosts
+  /// the primary copy to spill.
+  void SpillOwnedObject(const ObjectID &object_id, const std::shared_ptr<RayObject> &obj,
+                        std::function<void()> callback);
+
   const CoreWorkerOptions options_;
 
   /// Callback to get the current language (e.g., Python) call site.
diff --git a/src/ray/core_worker/object_recovery_manager.cc b/src/ray/core_worker/object_recovery_manager.cc
index 92beaa21f..6e7004e4d 100644
--- a/src/ray/core_worker/object_recovery_manager.cc
+++ b/src/ray/core_worker/object_recovery_manager.cc
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ namespace ray {
 
 Status ObjectRecoveryManager::RecoverObject(const ObjectID &object_id) {
   // Check the ReferenceCounter to see if there is a location for the object.
-  bool pinned = false;
-  bool owned_by_us = reference_counter_->IsPlasmaObjectPinned(object_id, &pinned);
+  ClientID pinned_at;
+  bool owned_by_us = reference_counter_->IsPlasmaObjectPinned(object_id, &pinned_at);
   if (!owned_by_us) {
     return Status::Invalid(
         "Object reference no longer exists or is not owned by us. Either lineage pinning "
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ Status ObjectRecoveryManager::RecoverObject(const ObjectID &object_id) {
   }
 
   bool already_pending_recovery = true;
-  if (!pinned) {
+  if (pinned_at.IsNil()) {
     {
       absl::MutexLock lock(&mu_);
       // Mark that we are attempting recovery for this object to prevent
diff --git a/src/ray/core_worker/reference_count.cc b/src/ray/core_worker/reference_count.cc
index d1bbfe9dd..2376799ee 100644
--- a/src/ray/core_worker/reference_count.cc
+++ b/src/ray/core_worker/reference_count.cc
@@ -539,12 +539,12 @@ void ReferenceCounter::UpdateObjectPinnedAtRaylet(const ObjectID &object_id,
 }
 
 bool ReferenceCounter::IsPlasmaObjectPinned(const ObjectID &object_id,
-                                            bool *pinned) const {
+                                            ClientID *pinned_at) const {
   absl::MutexLock lock(&mutex_);
   auto it = object_id_refs_.find(object_id);
   if (it != object_id_refs_.end()) {
     if (it->second.owned_by_us) {
-      *pinned = it->second.pinned_at_raylet_id.has_value();
+      *pinned_at = it->second.pinned_at_raylet_id.value_or(ClientID::Nil());
       return true;
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/ray/core_worker/reference_count.h b/src/ray/core_worker/reference_count.h
index 812e65ce0..1b40874c3 100644
--- a/src/ray/core_worker/reference_count.h
+++ b/src/ray/core_worker/reference_count.h
@@ -327,12 +327,12 @@ class ReferenceCounter : public ReferenceCounterInterface {
   /// Check whether the object is pinned at a remote plasma store node.
   ///
   /// \param[in] object_id The object to check.
-  /// \param[out] pinned Whether the object was pinned at a remote plasma store
-  /// node.
+  /// \param[out] pinned_at The node ID of the raylet at which this object is
+  /// pinned. Set to nil if the object is not pinned.
   /// \return True if the object exists and is owned by us, false otherwise. We
   /// return false here because a borrower should not know the pinned location
   /// for an object.
-  bool IsPlasmaObjectPinned(const ObjectID &object_id, bool *pinned) const
+  bool IsPlasmaObjectPinned(const ObjectID &object_id, ClientID *pinned_at) const
       LOCKS_EXCLUDED(mutex_);
 
   /// Get and reset the objects that were pinned on the given node.  This
diff --git a/src/ray/core_worker/reference_count_test.cc b/src/ray/core_worker/reference_count_test.cc
index ea17419b5..605233439 100644
--- a/src/ray/core_worker/reference_count_test.cc
+++ b/src/ray/core_worker/reference_count_test.cc
@@ -1986,22 +1986,22 @@ TEST_F(ReferenceCountLineageEnabledTest, TestPlasmaLocation) {
 
   ObjectID borrowed_id = ObjectID::FromRandom();
   rc->AddLocalReference(borrowed_id, "");
-  bool pinned = false;
-  ASSERT_FALSE(rc->IsPlasmaObjectPinned(borrowed_id, &pinned));
+  ClientID pinned_at;
+  ASSERT_FALSE(rc->IsPlasmaObjectPinned(borrowed_id, &pinned_at));
 
   ObjectID id = ObjectID::FromRandom();
   ClientID node_id = ClientID::FromRandom();
   rc->AddOwnedObject(id, {}, rpc::Address(), "", 0, true);
   rc->AddLocalReference(id, "");
   ASSERT_TRUE(rc->SetDeleteCallback(id, callback));
-  ASSERT_TRUE(rc->IsPlasmaObjectPinned(id, &pinned));
-  ASSERT_FALSE(pinned);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(rc->IsPlasmaObjectPinned(id, &pinned_at));
+  ASSERT_TRUE(pinned_at.IsNil());
   rc->UpdateObjectPinnedAtRaylet(id, node_id);
-  ASSERT_TRUE(rc->IsPlasmaObjectPinned(id, &pinned));
-  ASSERT_TRUE(pinned);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(rc->IsPlasmaObjectPinned(id, &pinned_at));
+  ASSERT_FALSE(pinned_at.IsNil());
 
   rc->RemoveLocalReference(id, nullptr);
-  ASSERT_FALSE(rc->IsPlasmaObjectPinned(id, &pinned));
+  ASSERT_FALSE(rc->IsPlasmaObjectPinned(id, &pinned_at));
   ASSERT_TRUE(deleted->count(id) > 0);
   deleted->clear();
 
@@ -2012,8 +2012,8 @@ TEST_F(ReferenceCountLineageEnabledTest, TestPlasmaLocation) {
   auto objects = rc->ResetObjectsOnRemovedNode(node_id);
   ASSERT_EQ(objects.size(), 1);
   ASSERT_EQ(objects[0], id);
-  ASSERT_TRUE(rc->IsPlasmaObjectPinned(id, &pinned));
-  ASSERT_FALSE(pinned);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(rc->IsPlasmaObjectPinned(id, &pinned_at));
+  ASSERT_TRUE(pinned_at.IsNil());
   ASSERT_TRUE(deleted->count(id) > 0);
   deleted->clear();
 }
@@ -2034,9 +2034,9 @@ TEST_F(ReferenceCountTest, TestFree) {
   ASSERT_FALSE(rc->SetDeleteCallback(id, callback));
   ASSERT_EQ(deleted->count(id), 0);
   rc->UpdateObjectPinnedAtRaylet(id, node_id);
-  bool pinned = true;
-  ASSERT_TRUE(rc->IsPlasmaObjectPinned(id, &pinned));
-  ASSERT_FALSE(pinned);
+  ClientID pinned_at;
+  ASSERT_TRUE(rc->IsPlasmaObjectPinned(id, &pinned_at));
+  ASSERT_TRUE(pinned_at.IsNil());
   ASSERT_TRUE(rc->IsPlasmaObjectFreed(id));
   rc->RemoveLocalReference(id, nullptr);
   ASSERT_FALSE(rc->IsPlasmaObjectFreed(id));
@@ -2050,8 +2050,8 @@ TEST_F(ReferenceCountTest, TestFree) {
   rc->FreePlasmaObjects({id});
   ASSERT_TRUE(rc->IsPlasmaObjectFreed(id));
   ASSERT_TRUE(deleted->count(id) > 0);
-  ASSERT_TRUE(rc->IsPlasmaObjectPinned(id, &pinned));
-  ASSERT_FALSE(pinned);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(rc->IsPlasmaObjectPinned(id, &pinned_at));
+  ASSERT_TRUE(pinned_at.IsNil());
   rc->RemoveLocalReference(id, nullptr);
   ASSERT_FALSE(rc->IsPlasmaObjectFreed(id));
 }
diff --git a/src/ray/core_worker/task_manager.cc b/src/ray/core_worker/task_manager.cc
index 121d71d3d..2c288efe5 100644
--- a/src/ray/core_worker/task_manager.cc
+++ b/src/ray/core_worker/task_manager.cc
@@ -185,10 +185,10 @@ void TaskManager::CompletePendingTask(const TaskID &task_id,
     if (return_object.in_plasma()) {
       const auto pinned_at_raylet_id = ClientID::FromBinary(worker_addr.raylet_id());
       if (check_node_alive_(pinned_at_raylet_id)) {
+        reference_counter_->UpdateObjectPinnedAtRaylet(object_id, pinned_at_raylet_id);
         // Mark it as in plasma with a dummy object.
         RAY_CHECK(in_memory_store_->Put(RayObject(rpc::ErrorType::OBJECT_IN_PLASMA),
                                         object_id));
-        reference_counter_->UpdateObjectPinnedAtRaylet(object_id, pinned_at_raylet_id);
       } else {
         RAY_LOG(INFO) << "Task " << task_id << " returned object " << object_id
                       << " in plasma on a dead node, attempting to recover";
diff --git a/src/ray/protobuf/node_manager.proto b/src/ray/protobuf/node_manager.proto
index e720c534c..c33f0abcb 100644
--- a/src/ray/protobuf/node_manager.proto
+++ b/src/ray/protobuf/node_manager.proto
@@ -139,6 +139,16 @@ message FormatGlobalMemoryInfoReply {
   string memory_summary = 1;
 }
 
+message RequestObjectSpillageRequest {
+  // ObjectID to spill.
+  bytes object_id = 1;
+}
+
+message RequestObjectSpillageReply {
+  // Whether the object spilling was successful or not.
+  bool success = 1;
+}
+
 // Service for inter-node-manager communication.
 service NodeManagerService {
   // Request a worker from the raylet.
@@ -169,4 +179,7 @@ service NodeManagerService {
   // Get global object reference stats in formatted form.
   rpc FormatGlobalMemoryInfo(FormatGlobalMemoryInfoRequest)
       returns (FormatGlobalMemoryInfoReply);
+  // Ask the raylet to spill an object to external storage.
+  rpc RequestObjectSpillage(RequestObjectSpillageRequest)
+      returns (RequestObjectSpillageReply);
 }
diff --git a/src/ray/raylet/format/node_manager.fbs b/src/ray/raylet/format/node_manager.fbs
index 34cda671c..2d401c0ab 100644
--- a/src/ray/raylet/format/node_manager.fbs
+++ b/src/ray/raylet/format/node_manager.fbs
@@ -82,9 +82,6 @@ enum MessageType:int {
   SetResourceRequest,
   // Subscribe to Plasma updates
   SubscribePlasmaReady,
-  // Manually spill objects to external storage.
-  ForceSpillObjectsRequest,
-  ForceSpillObjectsReply,
   // Manually restore objects from external storage.
   ForceRestoreSpilledObjectsRequest,
   ForceRestoreSpilledObjectsReply,
diff --git a/src/ray/raylet/node_manager.cc b/src/ray/raylet/node_manager.cc
index 55917b457..e5b2b659b 100644
--- a/src/ray/raylet/node_manager.cc
+++ b/src/ray/raylet/node_manager.cc
@@ -506,6 +506,18 @@ void NodeManager::DoLocalGC() {
   }
 }
 
+void NodeManager::HandleRequestObjectSpillage(
+    const rpc::RequestObjectSpillageRequest &request,
+    rpc::RequestObjectSpillageReply *reply, rpc::SendReplyCallback send_reply_callback) {
+  SpillObjects({ObjectID::FromBinary(request.object_id())},
+               [reply, send_reply_callback](const ray::Status &status) {
+                 if (status.ok()) {
+                   reply->set_success(true);
+                 }
+                 send_reply_callback(Status::OK(), nullptr, nullptr);
+               });
+}
+
 void NodeManager::SpillObjects(const std::vector<ObjectID> &objects_ids_to_spill,
                                std::function<void(const ray::Status &)> callback) {
   std::vector<ObjectID> objects_ids;
@@ -514,6 +526,15 @@ void NodeManager::SpillObjects(const std::vector<ObjectID> &objects_ids_to_spill
     if (spilled_objects_.count(id) == 0) {
       objects_ids.push_back(id);
     }
+    // We should not spill an object that we are not the primary copy for.
+    // TODO(swang): We should really return an error here but right now there
+    // is a race condition where the raylet receives the owner's request to
+    // spill an object before it receives the message to pin the objects from
+    // the local worker.
+    if (pinned_objects_.count(id) == 0) {
+      RAY_LOG(WARNING) << "Requested spill for object that has not yet been marked as "
+                          "the primary copy";
+    }
   }
   if (objects_ids.empty()) {
     if (callback) {
@@ -521,42 +542,43 @@ void NodeManager::SpillObjects(const std::vector<ObjectID> &objects_ids_to_spill
     }
     return;
   }
-  worker_pool_.PopIOWorker(
-      [this, objects_ids, callback](std::shared_ptr<WorkerInterface> io_worker) {
-        RAY_LOG(DEBUG) << "Sending object spilling request";
-        rpc::SpillObjectsRequest request;
-        for (const auto &object_id : objects_ids) {
-          request.add_object_ids_to_spill(object_id.Binary());
-        }
-        io_worker->rpc_client()->SpillObjects(
-            request, [this, objects_ids, callback, io_worker](
-                         const ray::Status &status, const rpc::SpillObjectsReply &r) {
-              worker_pool_.PushIOWorker(io_worker);
-              if (!status.ok()) {
-                RAY_LOG(ERROR) << "Failed to send object spilling request: "
-                               << status.ToString();
+  worker_pool_.PopIOWorker([this, objects_ids,
+                            callback](std::shared_ptr<WorkerInterface> io_worker) {
+    rpc::SpillObjectsRequest request;
+    for (const auto &object_id : objects_ids) {
+      RAY_LOG(DEBUG) << "Sending spill request for object " << object_id;
+      request.add_object_ids_to_spill(object_id.Binary());
+    }
+    io_worker->rpc_client()->SpillObjects(
+        request, [this, objects_ids, callback, io_worker](
+                     const ray::Status &status, const rpc::SpillObjectsReply &r) {
+          worker_pool_.PushIOWorker(io_worker);
+          if (!status.ok()) {
+            RAY_LOG(ERROR) << "Failed to send object spilling request: "
+                           << status.ToString();
+          } else {
+            RAY_CHECK(static_cast<size_t>(r.spilled_objects_url_size()) ==
+                      objects_ids.size());
+            for (size_t i = 0; i < objects_ids.size(); ++i) {
+              const ObjectID &object_id = objects_ids[i];
+              const std::string &object_url = r.spilled_objects_url(i);
+              RAY_LOG(DEBUG) << "Object " << object_id << " spilled at " << object_url;
+              // TODO(suquark): write to object directory.
+              spilled_objects_[object_id] = object_url;
+              auto search = pinned_objects_.find(object_id);
+              if (search != pinned_objects_.end()) {
+                pinned_objects_.erase(search);
               } else {
-                RAY_CHECK(static_cast<size_t>(r.spilled_objects_url_size()) ==
-                          objects_ids.size());
-                for (size_t i = 0; i < objects_ids.size(); ++i) {
-                  const ObjectID &object_id = objects_ids[i];
-                  const std::string &object_url = r.spilled_objects_url(i);
-                  // TODO(suquark): write to object directory.
-                  spilled_objects_[object_id] = object_url;
-                  auto search = pinned_objects_.find(object_id);
-                  if (search != pinned_objects_.end()) {
-                    pinned_objects_.erase(search);
-                  } else {
-                    RAY_LOG(ERROR)
-                        << "The spilled object " << object_id.Hex() << " is not pinned.";
-                  }
-                }
+                RAY_LOG(ERROR) << "The spilled object " << object_id.Hex()
+                               << " is not pinned.";
               }
-              if (callback) {
-                callback(status);
-              }
-            });
-      });
+            }
+          }
+          if (callback) {
+            callback(status);
+          }
+        });
+  });
 }
 
 void NodeManager::RestoreSpilledObjects(
@@ -565,6 +587,10 @@ void NodeManager::RestoreSpilledObjects(
   std::vector<std::string> object_urls;
   object_urls.reserve(object_ids.size());
   for (const auto &object_id : object_ids) {
+    if (spilled_objects_.count(object_id) == 0) {
+      callback(Status::Invalid("No object URL recorded"));
+      return;
+    }
     object_urls.push_back(spilled_objects_[object_id]);
   }
   worker_pool_.PopIOWorker([this, object_urls,
@@ -1226,23 +1252,6 @@ void NodeManager::ProcessClientMessage(const std::shared_ptr<ClientConnection> &
   case protocol::MessageType::SubscribePlasmaReady: {
     ProcessSubscribePlasmaReady(client, message_data);
   } break;
-  case protocol::MessageType::ForceSpillObjectsRequest: {
-    auto message = flatbuffers::GetRoot<protocol::ForceSpillObjectsRequest>(message_data);
-    std::vector<ObjectID> object_ids = from_flatbuf<ObjectID>(*message->object_ids());
-    SpillObjects(object_ids, [this, client](const ray::Status &status) {
-      flatbuffers::FlatBufferBuilder fbb;
-      flatbuffers::Offset<protocol::ForceSpillObjectsReply> reply =
-          protocol::CreateForceSpillObjectsReply(fbb);
-      fbb.Finish(reply);
-      auto reply_status = client->WriteMessage(
-          static_cast<int64_t>(protocol::MessageType::ForceSpillObjectsReply),
-          fbb.GetSize(), fbb.GetBufferPointer());
-      if (!reply_status.ok()) {
-        // We failed to write to the client, so disconnect the client.
-        ProcessDisconnectClientMessage(client);
-      }
-    });
-  } break;
   case protocol::MessageType::ForceRestoreSpilledObjectsRequest: {
     auto message =
         flatbuffers::GetRoot<protocol::ForceRestoreSpilledObjectsRequest>(message_data);
diff --git a/src/ray/raylet/node_manager.h b/src/ray/raylet/node_manager.h
index 15192640e..612d7004b 100644
--- a/src/ray/raylet/node_manager.h
+++ b/src/ray/raylet/node_manager.h
@@ -607,6 +607,11 @@ class NodeManager : public rpc::NodeManagerServiceHandler {
                                     rpc::FormatGlobalMemoryInfoReply *reply,
                                     rpc::SendReplyCallback send_reply_callback) override;
 
+  /// Handle a `RequestObjectSpillage` request.
+  void HandleRequestObjectSpillage(const rpc::RequestObjectSpillageRequest &request,
+                                   rpc::RequestObjectSpillageReply *reply,
+                                   rpc::SendReplyCallback send_reply_callback) override;
+
   /// Trigger global GC across the cluster to free up references to actors or
   /// object ids.
   void TriggerGlobalGC();
diff --git a/src/ray/raylet_client/raylet_client.cc b/src/ray/raylet_client/raylet_client.cc
index 545569280..f289bdb20 100644
--- a/src/ray/raylet_client/raylet_client.cc
+++ b/src/ray/raylet_client/raylet_client.cc
@@ -311,18 +311,12 @@ void raylet::RayletClient::RequestWorkerLease(
 }
 
 /// Spill objects to external storage.
-/// \param object_ids The IDs of objects to be spilled.
-Status raylet::RayletClient::ForceSpillObjects(const std::vector<ObjectID> &object_ids) {
-  flatbuffers::FlatBufferBuilder fbb;
-  auto message =
-      protocol::CreateForceSpillObjectsRequest(fbb, to_flatbuf(fbb, object_ids));
-  fbb.Finish(message);
-  std::vector<uint8_t> reply;
-  RAY_RETURN_NOT_OK(conn_->AtomicRequestReply(MessageType::ForceSpillObjectsRequest,
-                                              MessageType::ForceSpillObjectsReply, &reply,
-                                              &fbb));
-  RAY_UNUSED(flatbuffers::GetRoot<protocol::ForceSpillObjectsReply>(reply.data()));
-  return Status::OK();
+void raylet::RayletClient::RequestObjectSpillage(
+    const ObjectID &object_id,
+    const rpc::ClientCallback<rpc::RequestObjectSpillageReply> &callback) {
+  rpc::RequestObjectSpillageRequest request;
+  request.set_object_id(object_id.Binary());
+  grpc_client_->RequestObjectSpillage(request, callback);
 }
 
 /// Restore spilled objects from external storage.
diff --git a/src/ray/raylet_client/raylet_client.h b/src/ray/raylet_client/raylet_client.h
index ddf80c6ea..d84a66c29 100644
--- a/src/ray/raylet_client/raylet_client.h
+++ b/src/ray/raylet_client/raylet_client.h
@@ -319,10 +319,13 @@ class RayletClient : public PinObjectsInterface,
   ray::Status SetResource(const std::string &resource_name, const double capacity,
                           const ray::ClientID &client_Id);
 
-  /// Spill objects to external storage.
-  /// \param object_ids The IDs of objects to be spilled.
-  /// \return ray::Status
-  ray::Status ForceSpillObjects(const std::vector<ObjectID> &object_ids);
+  /// Ask the raylet to spill an object to external storage.
+  /// \param object_id The ID of the object to be spilled.
+  /// \param callback Callback that will be called after raylet completes the
+  /// object spilling (or it fails).
+  void RequestObjectSpillage(
+      const ObjectID &object_id,
+      const rpc::ClientCallback<rpc::RequestObjectSpillageReply> &callback);
 
   /// Restore spilled objects from external storage.
   /// \param object_ids The IDs of objects to be restored.
diff --git a/src/ray/rpc/node_manager/node_manager_client.h b/src/ray/rpc/node_manager/node_manager_client.h
index e6fe99d50..3dc1cd4e6 100644
--- a/src/ray/rpc/node_manager/node_manager_client.h
+++ b/src/ray/rpc/node_manager/node_manager_client.h
@@ -94,6 +94,9 @@ class NodeManagerWorkerClient
   /// Trigger global GC across the cluster.
   VOID_RPC_CLIENT_METHOD(NodeManagerService, GlobalGC, grpc_client_, )
 
+  /// Ask the raylet to spill an object to external storage.
+  VOID_RPC_CLIENT_METHOD(NodeManagerService, RequestObjectSpillage, grpc_client_, )
+
  private:
   /// Constructor.
   ///
diff --git a/src/ray/rpc/node_manager/node_manager_server.h b/src/ray/rpc/node_manager/node_manager_server.h
index 66783976e..f383dc9d8 100644
--- a/src/ray/rpc/node_manager/node_manager_server.h
+++ b/src/ray/rpc/node_manager/node_manager_server.h
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ namespace rpc {
   RPC_SERVICE_HANDLER(NodeManagerService, GlobalGC)               \
   RPC_SERVICE_HANDLER(NodeManagerService, FormatGlobalMemoryInfo) \
   RPC_SERVICE_HANDLER(NodeManagerService, RequestResourceReserve) \
-  RPC_SERVICE_HANDLER(NodeManagerService, CancelResourceReserve)
+  RPC_SERVICE_HANDLER(NodeManagerService, CancelResourceReserve)  \
+  RPC_SERVICE_HANDLER(NodeManagerService, RequestObjectSpillage)
 
 /// Interface of the `NodeManagerService`, see `src/ray/protobuf/node_manager.proto`.
 class NodeManagerServiceHandler {
@@ -89,6 +90,10 @@ class NodeManagerServiceHandler {
   virtual void HandleFormatGlobalMemoryInfo(const FormatGlobalMemoryInfoRequest &request,
                                             FormatGlobalMemoryInfoReply *reply,
                                             SendReplyCallback send_reply_callback) = 0;
+
+  virtual void HandleRequestObjectSpillage(const RequestObjectSpillageRequest &request,
+                                           RequestObjectSpillageReply *reply,
+                                           SendReplyCallback send_reply_callback) = 0;
 };
 
 /// The `GrpcService` for `NodeManagerService`.