diff --git a/python/ray/tests/test_actor_advanced.py b/python/ray/tests/test_actor_advanced.py
index a812c6731..af490eb77 100644
--- a/python/ray/tests/test_actor_advanced.py
+++ b/python/ray/tests/test_actor_advanced.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import ray.cluster_utils
 from ray.test_utils import (run_string_as_driver, get_non_head_nodes,
                             wait_for_condition)
 from ray.experimental.internal_kv import _internal_kv_get, _internal_kv_put
+from ray._raylet import GlobalStateAccessor
 
 
 def test_remote_functions_not_scheduled_on_actors(ray_start_regular):
@@ -1038,6 +1039,59 @@ def test_get_actor_no_input(ray_start_regular_shared):
             ray.get_actor(bad_name)
 
 
+def test_actor_resource_demand(shutdown_only):
+    ray.shutdown()
+    cluster = ray.init(num_cpus=3)
+    global_state_accessor = GlobalStateAccessor(
+        cluster["redis_address"], ray.ray_constants.REDIS_DEFAULT_PASSWORD)
+    global_state_accessor.connect()
+
+    @ray.remote(num_cpus=2)
+    class Actor:
+        def foo(self):
+            return "ok"
+
+    a = Actor.remote()
+    ray.get(a.foo.remote())
+    time.sleep(1)
+
+    message = global_state_accessor.get_all_heartbeat()
+    heartbeat = ray.gcs_utils.HeartbeatBatchTableData.FromString(message)
+
+    # The actor is scheduled so there should be no more demands left.
+    assert len(heartbeat.resource_load_by_shape.resource_demands) == 0
+
+    @ray.remote(num_cpus=80)
+    class Actor2:
+        pass
+
+    actors = []
+    actors.append(Actor2.remote())
+    time.sleep(1)
+
+    # This actor cannot be scheduled.
+    message = global_state_accessor.get_all_heartbeat()
+    heartbeat = ray.gcs_utils.HeartbeatBatchTableData.FromString(message)
+    assert len(heartbeat.resource_load_by_shape.resource_demands) == 1
+    assert (heartbeat.resource_load_by_shape.resource_demands[0].shape == {
+        "CPU": 80.0
+    })
+    assert (heartbeat.resource_load_by_shape.resource_demands[0]
+            .num_infeasible_requests_queued == 1)
+
+    actors.append(Actor2.remote())
+    time.sleep(1)
+
+    # Two actors cannot be scheduled.
+    message = global_state_accessor.get_all_heartbeat()
+    heartbeat = ray.gcs_utils.HeartbeatBatchTableData.FromString(message)
+    assert len(heartbeat.resource_load_by_shape.resource_demands) == 1
+    assert (heartbeat.resource_load_by_shape.resource_demands[0]
+            .num_infeasible_requests_queued == 2)
+
+    global_state_accessor.disconnect()
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     import pytest
     sys.exit(pytest.main(["-v", __file__]))
diff --git a/src/ray/gcs/gcs_server/gcs_actor_scheduler.cc b/src/ray/gcs/gcs_server/gcs_actor_scheduler.cc
index a1fc20f88..8e2329c7b 100644
--- a/src/ray/gcs/gcs_server/gcs_actor_scheduler.cc
+++ b/src/ray/gcs/gcs_server/gcs_actor_scheduler.cc
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ GcsActorScheduler::GcsActorScheduler(
       gcs_pub_sub_(std::move(gcs_pub_sub)),
       schedule_failure_handler_(std::move(schedule_failure_handler)),
       schedule_success_handler_(std::move(schedule_success_handler)),
+      report_worker_backlog_(RayConfig::instance().report_worker_backlog()),
       lease_client_factory_(std::move(lease_client_factory)),
       core_worker_clients_(client_factory) {
   RAY_CHECK(schedule_failure_handler_ != nullptr && schedule_success_handler_ != nullptr);
@@ -208,6 +209,9 @@ void GcsActorScheduler::LeaseWorkerFromNode(std::shared_ptr<GcsActor> actor,
   remote_address.set_ip_address(node->node_manager_address());
   remote_address.set_port(node->node_manager_port());
   auto lease_client = GetOrConnectLeaseClient(remote_address);
+  // Actor leases should be sent to the raylet immediately, so we should never build up a
+  // backlog in GCS.
+  int backlog_size = report_worker_backlog_ ? 0 : -1;
   lease_client->RequestWorkerLease(
       actor->GetCreationTaskSpecification(),
       [this, node_id, actor, node](const Status &status,
@@ -247,7 +251,8 @@ void GcsActorScheduler::LeaseWorkerFromNode(std::shared_ptr<GcsActor> actor,
             RetryLeasingWorkerFromNode(actor, node);
           }
         }
-      });
+      },
+      backlog_size);
 }
 
 void GcsActorScheduler::RetryLeasingWorkerFromNode(
diff --git a/src/ray/gcs/gcs_server/gcs_actor_scheduler.h b/src/ray/gcs/gcs_server/gcs_actor_scheduler.h
index 99456adec..c1ebebda9 100644
--- a/src/ray/gcs/gcs_server/gcs_actor_scheduler.h
+++ b/src/ray/gcs/gcs_server/gcs_actor_scheduler.h
@@ -286,6 +286,8 @@ class GcsActorScheduler : public GcsActorSchedulerInterface {
   std::function<void(std::shared_ptr<GcsActor>)> schedule_failure_handler_;
   /// The handler to handle the successful scheduling.
   std::function<void(std::shared_ptr<GcsActor>)> schedule_success_handler_;
+  /// Whether or not to report the backlog of actors waiting to be scheduled.
+  bool report_worker_backlog_;
   /// Factory for producing new clients to request leases from remote nodes.
   LeaseClientFactoryFn lease_client_factory_;
   /// The nodes which are releasing unused workers.