diff --git a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_channel.py b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_channel.py
index a89b5013030575acc20db670e47b61bdd7c4cfc8..29dbc3a668ba5414f6a2b49a1644dad746c2947f 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_channel.py
+++ b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_channel.py
@@ -195,7 +195,8 @@ def _consume_request_iterator(
                 cygrpc.operation_send_message(
                     serialized_request, _EMPTY_FLAGS),
             )
-            call.start_batch(cygrpc.Operations(operations), event_handler)
+            call.start_client_batch(cygrpc.Operations(operations),
+                                    event_handler)
             state.due.add(cygrpc.OperationType.send_message)
             while True:
               state.condition.wait()
@@ -211,7 +212,7 @@ def _consume_request_iterator(
         operations = (
             cygrpc.operation_send_close_from_client(_EMPTY_FLAGS),
         )
-        call.start_batch(cygrpc.Operations(operations), event_handler)
+        call.start_client_batch(cygrpc.Operations(operations), event_handler)
         state.due.add(cygrpc.OperationType.send_close_from_client)
 
   def stop_consumption_thread(timeout):
@@ -312,7 +313,7 @@ class _Rendezvous(grpc.RpcError, grpc.Future, grpc.Call):
       if self._state.code is None:
         event_handler = _event_handler(
             self._state, self._call, self._response_deserializer)
-        self._call.start_batch(
+        self._call.start_client_batch(
             cygrpc.Operations(
                 (cygrpc.operation_receive_message(_EMPTY_FLAGS),)),
             event_handler)
@@ -471,7 +472,7 @@ class _UnaryUnaryMultiCallable(grpc.UnaryUnaryMultiCallable):
           None, 0, completion_queue, self._method, None, deadline_timespec)
       if credentials is not None:
         call.set_credentials(credentials._credentials)
-      call.start_batch(cygrpc.Operations(operations), None)
+      call.start_client_batch(cygrpc.Operations(operations), None)
       _handle_event(completion_queue.poll(), state, self._response_deserializer)
       return state, deadline
 
@@ -495,7 +496,7 @@ class _UnaryUnaryMultiCallable(grpc.UnaryUnaryMultiCallable):
         call.set_credentials(credentials._credentials)
       event_handler = _event_handler(state, call, self._response_deserializer)
       with state.condition:
-        call.start_batch(cygrpc.Operations(operations), event_handler)
+        call.start_client_batch(cygrpc.Operations(operations), event_handler)
       return _Rendezvous(state, call, self._response_deserializer, deadline)
 
 
@@ -523,7 +524,7 @@ class _UnaryStreamMultiCallable(grpc.UnaryStreamMultiCallable):
         call.set_credentials(credentials._credentials)
       event_handler = _event_handler(state, call, self._response_deserializer)
       with state.condition:
-        call.start_batch(
+        call.start_client_batch(
             cygrpc.Operations(
                 (cygrpc.operation_receive_initial_metadata(_EMPTY_FLAGS),)),
             event_handler)
@@ -534,7 +535,7 @@ class _UnaryStreamMultiCallable(grpc.UnaryStreamMultiCallable):
             cygrpc.operation_send_close_from_client(_EMPTY_FLAGS),
             cygrpc.operation_receive_status_on_client(_EMPTY_FLAGS),
         )
-        call.start_batch(cygrpc.Operations(operations), event_handler)
+        call.start_client_batch(cygrpc.Operations(operations), event_handler)
       return _Rendezvous(state, call, self._response_deserializer, deadline)
 
 
@@ -558,7 +559,7 @@ class _StreamUnaryMultiCallable(grpc.StreamUnaryMultiCallable):
     if credentials is not None:
       call.set_credentials(credentials._credentials)
     with state.condition:
-      call.start_batch(
+      call.start_client_batch(
           cygrpc.Operations(
               (cygrpc.operation_receive_initial_metadata(_EMPTY_FLAGS),)),
           None)
@@ -568,7 +569,7 @@ class _StreamUnaryMultiCallable(grpc.StreamUnaryMultiCallable):
           cygrpc.operation_receive_message(_EMPTY_FLAGS),
           cygrpc.operation_receive_status_on_client(_EMPTY_FLAGS),
       )
-      call.start_batch(cygrpc.Operations(operations), None)
+      call.start_client_batch(cygrpc.Operations(operations), None)
       _consume_request_iterator(
           request_iterator, state, call, self._request_serializer)
     while True:
@@ -602,7 +603,7 @@ class _StreamUnaryMultiCallable(grpc.StreamUnaryMultiCallable):
       call.set_credentials(credentials._credentials)
     event_handler = _event_handler(state, call, self._response_deserializer)
     with state.condition:
-      call.start_batch(
+      call.start_client_batch(
           cygrpc.Operations(
               (cygrpc.operation_receive_initial_metadata(_EMPTY_FLAGS),)),
           event_handler)
@@ -612,7 +613,7 @@ class _StreamUnaryMultiCallable(grpc.StreamUnaryMultiCallable):
           cygrpc.operation_receive_message(_EMPTY_FLAGS),
           cygrpc.operation_receive_status_on_client(_EMPTY_FLAGS),
       )
-      call.start_batch(cygrpc.Operations(operations), event_handler)
+      call.start_client_batch(cygrpc.Operations(operations), event_handler)
       _consume_request_iterator(
           request_iterator, state, call, self._request_serializer)
     return _Rendezvous(state, call, self._response_deserializer, deadline)
@@ -639,7 +640,7 @@ class _StreamStreamMultiCallable(grpc.StreamStreamMultiCallable):
       call.set_credentials(credentials._credentials)
     event_handler = _event_handler(state, call, self._response_deserializer)
     with state.condition:
-      call.start_batch(
+      call.start_client_batch(
           cygrpc.Operations(
               (cygrpc.operation_receive_initial_metadata(_EMPTY_FLAGS),)),
           event_handler)
@@ -648,7 +649,7 @@ class _StreamStreamMultiCallable(grpc.StreamStreamMultiCallable):
               _common.cygrpc_metadata(metadata), _EMPTY_FLAGS),
           cygrpc.operation_receive_status_on_client(_EMPTY_FLAGS),
       )
-      call.start_batch(cygrpc.Operations(operations), event_handler)
+      call.start_client_batch(cygrpc.Operations(operations), event_handler)
       _consume_request_iterator(
           request_iterator, state, call, self._request_serializer)
     return _Rendezvous(state, call, self._response_deserializer, deadline)
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/call.pyx.pxi b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/call.pyx.pxi
index a09bbc75fe655dd0221534d7904701caa76a8c2a..6570dcdb8524ee9ff27575a5c1287922dd99dc4e 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/call.pyx.pxi
+++ b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/call.pyx.pxi
@@ -37,13 +37,16 @@ cdef class Call:
     self.c_call = NULL
     self.references = []
 
-  def start_batch(self, operations, tag):
+  def _start_batch(self, operations, tag, retain_self):
     if not self.is_valid:
       raise ValueError("invalid call object cannot be used from Python")
     cdef grpc_call_error result
     cdef Operations cy_operations = Operations(operations)
     cdef OperationTag operation_tag = OperationTag(tag)
-    operation_tag.operation_call = self
+    if retain_self:
+      operation_tag.operation_call = self
+    else:
+      operation_tag.operation_call = None
     operation_tag.batch_operations = cy_operations
     cpython.Py_INCREF(operation_tag)
     with nogil:
@@ -52,6 +55,14 @@ cdef class Call:
           <cpython.PyObject *>operation_tag, NULL)
     return result
 
+  def start_client_batch(self, operations, tag):
+    # We don't reference this call in the operations tag because
+    # it should be cancelled when it goes out of scope
+    return self._start_batch(operations, tag, False)
+
+  def start_server_batch(self, operations, tag):
+    return self._start_batch(operations, tag, True)
+
   def cancel(
       self, grpc_status_code error_code=GRPC_STATUS__DO_NOT_USE,
       details=None):
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/records.pxd.pxi b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/records.pxd.pxi
index 0474697af82f18e4fe08788df311caa0c051be07..96c5b02bc2e903d437ba679b49ca3e1420b4956e 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/records.pxd.pxi
+++ b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/records.pxd.pxi
@@ -58,14 +58,14 @@ cdef class Event:
   cdef readonly bint success
   cdef readonly object tag
 
-  # For operations with calls
-  cdef readonly Call operation_call
-
   # For Server.request_call
   cdef readonly bint is_new_request
   cdef readonly CallDetails request_call_details
   cdef readonly Metadata request_metadata
 
+  # For server calls
+  cdef readonly Call operation_call
+
   # For Call.start_batch
   cdef readonly Operations batch_operations
 
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_server.py b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_server.py
index f4c114056fe65aed34f4ef8cd0dc23c81f5813af..5d805b53e40377ffc05485b7a2c12741cc72e800 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_server.py
+++ b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_server.py
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ def _abort(state, call, code, details):
               effective_details, _EMPTY_FLAGS),
       )
       token = _SEND_STATUS_FROM_SERVER_TOKEN
-    call.start_batch(
+    call.start_server_batch(
         cygrpc.Operations(operations),
         _send_status_from_server(state, token))
     state.statused = True
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ class _Context(grpc.ServicerContext):
         if self._state.initial_metadata_allowed:
           operation = cygrpc.operation_send_initial_metadata(
               _common.cygrpc_metadata(initial_metadata), _EMPTY_FLAGS)
-          self._rpc_event.operation_call.start_batch(
+          self._rpc_event.operation_call.start_server_batch(
               cygrpc.Operations((operation,)),
               _send_initial_metadata(self._state))
           self._state.initial_metadata_allowed = False
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ class _RequestIterator(object):
     elif self._state.client is _CLOSED or self._state.statused:
       raise StopIteration()
     else:
-      self._call.start_batch(
+      self._call.start_server_batch(
           cygrpc.Operations((cygrpc.operation_receive_message(_EMPTY_FLAGS),)),
           _receive_message(self._state, self._call, self._request_deserializer))
       self._state.due.add(_RECEIVE_MESSAGE_TOKEN)
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ def _unary_request(rpc_event, state, request_deserializer):
       if state.client is _CANCELLED or state.statused:
         return None
       else:
-        start_batch_result = rpc_event.operation_call.start_batch(
+        start_server_batch_result = rpc_event.operation_call.start_server_batch(
             cygrpc.Operations(
                 (cygrpc.operation_receive_message(_EMPTY_FLAGS),)),
             _receive_message(
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ def _send_response(rpc_event, state, serialized_response):
             cygrpc.operation_send_message(serialized_response, _EMPTY_FLAGS),
         )
         token = _SEND_MESSAGE_TOKEN
-      rpc_event.operation_call.start_batch(
+      rpc_event.operation_call.start_server_batch(
           cygrpc.Operations(operations), _send_message(state, token))
       state.due.add(token)
       while True:
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ def _status(rpc_event, state, serialized_response):
       if serialized_response is not None:
         operations.append(cygrpc.operation_send_message(
             serialized_response, _EMPTY_FLAGS))
-      rpc_event.operation_call.start_batch(
+      rpc_event.operation_call.start_server_batch(
           cygrpc.Operations(operations),
           _send_status_from_server(state, _SEND_STATUS_FROM_SERVER_TOKEN))
       state.statused = True
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ def _handle_unrecognized_method(rpc_event):
           b'Method not found!', _EMPTY_FLAGS),
   )
   rpc_state = _RPCState()
-  rpc_event.operation_call.start_batch(
+  rpc_event.operation_call.start_server_batch(
       operations, lambda ignored_event: (rpc_state, (),))
   return rpc_state
 
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ def _handle_unrecognized_method(rpc_event):
 def _handle_with_method_handler(rpc_event, method_handler, thread_pool):
   state = _RPCState()
   with state.condition:
-    rpc_event.operation_call.start_batch(
+    rpc_event.operation_call.start_server_batch(
         cygrpc.Operations(
             (cygrpc.operation_receive_close_on_server(_EMPTY_FLAGS),)),
         _receive_close_on_server(state))
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_cython/_cancel_many_calls_test.py b/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_cython/_cancel_many_calls_test.py
index cac0c8b3b93e447a4204ee051076e7f1d2bede37..cf212c56539a9f69ae58b37c9d55ea1830e21d3e 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_cython/_cancel_many_calls_test.py
+++ b/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_cython/_cancel_many_calls_test.py
@@ -81,11 +81,11 @@ class _Handler(object):
         self._state.condition.wait()
 
     with self._lock:
-      self._call.start_batch(
+      self._call.start_server_batch(
           cygrpc.Operations(
               (cygrpc.operation_receive_close_on_server(_EMPTY_FLAGS),)),
           _RECEIVE_CLOSE_ON_SERVER_TAG)
-      self._call.start_batch(
+      self._call.start_server_batch(
           cygrpc.Operations((cygrpc.operation_receive_message(_EMPTY_FLAGS),)),
           _RECEIVE_MESSAGE_TAG)
     first_event = self._completion_queue.poll()
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ class _Handler(object):
                 _EMPTY_METADATA, cygrpc.StatusCode.ok, b'test details!',
                 _EMPTY_FLAGS),
         )
-        self._call.start_batch(
+        self._call.start_server_batch(
             cygrpc.Operations(operations), _SERVER_COMPLETE_CALL_TAG)
       self._completion_queue.poll()
       self._completion_queue.poll()
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ class CancelManyCallsTest(unittest.TestCase):
             cygrpc.operation_receive_status_on_client(_EMPTY_FLAGS),
         )
         tag = 'client_complete_call_{0:04d}_tag'.format(index)
-        client_call.start_batch(cygrpc.Operations(operations), tag)
+        client_call.start_client_batch(cygrpc.Operations(operations), tag)
         client_due.add(tag)
         client_calls.append(client_call)
 
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_cython/_read_some_but_not_all_responses_test.py b/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_cython/_read_some_but_not_all_responses_test.py
index 27fcee0d6f17caf6db00a9f65bf6e0050eb5ee4a..152d8edde3b49aa438d04178ae7dac0d61307d91 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_cython/_read_some_but_not_all_responses_test.py
+++ b/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_cython/_read_some_but_not_all_responses_test.py
@@ -168,12 +168,12 @@ class ReadSomeButNotAllResponsesTest(unittest.TestCase):
     client_complete_rpc_tag = 'client_complete_rpc_tag'
     with client_condition:
       client_receive_initial_metadata_start_batch_result = (
-          client_call.start_batch(cygrpc.Operations([
+          client_call.start_client_batch(cygrpc.Operations([
               cygrpc.operation_receive_initial_metadata(_EMPTY_FLAGS),
           ]), client_receive_initial_metadata_tag))
       client_due.add(client_receive_initial_metadata_tag)
       client_complete_rpc_start_batch_result = (
-          client_call.start_batch(cygrpc.Operations([
+          client_call.start_client_batch(cygrpc.Operations([
               cygrpc.operation_send_initial_metadata(
                   _EMPTY_METADATA, _EMPTY_FLAGS),
               cygrpc.operation_send_close_from_client(_EMPTY_FLAGS),
@@ -185,30 +185,30 @@ class ReadSomeButNotAllResponsesTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
     with server_call_condition:
       server_send_initial_metadata_start_batch_result = (
-          server_rpc_event.operation_call.start_batch(cygrpc.Operations([
+          server_rpc_event.operation_call.start_server_batch([
               cygrpc.operation_send_initial_metadata(
                   _EMPTY_METADATA, _EMPTY_FLAGS),
-          ]), server_send_initial_metadata_tag))
+          ], server_send_initial_metadata_tag))
       server_send_first_message_start_batch_result = (
-          server_rpc_event.operation_call.start_batch(cygrpc.Operations([
+          server_rpc_event.operation_call.start_server_batch([
               cygrpc.operation_send_message(b'\x07', _EMPTY_FLAGS),
-          ]), server_send_first_message_tag))
+          ], server_send_first_message_tag))
     server_send_initial_metadata_event = server_call_driver.event_with_tag(
         server_send_initial_metadata_tag)
     server_send_first_message_event = server_call_driver.event_with_tag(
         server_send_first_message_tag)
     with server_call_condition:
       server_send_second_message_start_batch_result = (
-          server_rpc_event.operation_call.start_batch(cygrpc.Operations([
+          server_rpc_event.operation_call.start_server_batch([
               cygrpc.operation_send_message(b'\x07', _EMPTY_FLAGS),
-          ]), server_send_second_message_tag))
+          ], server_send_second_message_tag))
       server_complete_rpc_start_batch_result = (
-          server_rpc_event.operation_call.start_batch(cygrpc.Operations([
+          server_rpc_event.operation_call.start_server_batch([
               cygrpc.operation_receive_close_on_server(_EMPTY_FLAGS),
               cygrpc.operation_send_status_from_server(
                   cygrpc.Metadata(()), cygrpc.StatusCode.ok, b'test details',
                   _EMPTY_FLAGS),
-          ]), server_complete_rpc_tag))
+          ], server_complete_rpc_tag))
     server_send_second_message_event = server_call_driver.event_with_tag(
         server_send_second_message_tag)
     server_complete_rpc_event = server_call_driver.event_with_tag(
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ class ReadSomeButNotAllResponsesTest(unittest.TestCase):
     with client_condition:
       client_receive_first_message_tag = 'client_receive_first_message_tag'
       client_receive_first_message_start_batch_result = (
-          client_call.start_batch(cygrpc.Operations([
+          client_call.start_client_batch(cygrpc.Operations([
               cygrpc.operation_receive_message(_EMPTY_FLAGS),
           ]), client_receive_first_message_tag))
       client_due.add(client_receive_first_message_tag)
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_cython/cygrpc_test.py b/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_cython/cygrpc_test.py
index b740695e35b1764859f98fd44d1308492148a7f6..9d1dbc189b8b418b01b5d69ce6660da0da68c6bd 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_cython/cygrpc_test.py
+++ b/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_cython/cygrpc_test.py
@@ -186,7 +186,8 @@ class ServerClientMixin(object):
     def performer():
       tag = object()
       try:
-        call_result = call.start_batch(cygrpc.Operations(operations), tag)
+        call_result = call.start_client_batch(
+            cygrpc.Operations(operations), tag)
         self.assertEqual(cygrpc.CallError.ok, call_result)
         event = queue.poll(deadline)
         self.assertEqual(cygrpc.CompletionType.operation_complete, event.type)
@@ -231,7 +232,7 @@ class ServerClientMixin(object):
         cygrpc.Metadatum(CLIENT_METADATA_ASCII_KEY,
                          CLIENT_METADATA_ASCII_VALUE),
         cygrpc.Metadatum(CLIENT_METADATA_BIN_KEY, CLIENT_METADATA_BIN_VALUE)])
-    client_start_batch_result = client_call.start_batch(cygrpc.Operations([
+    client_start_batch_result = client_call.start_client_batch([
         cygrpc.operation_send_initial_metadata(client_initial_metadata,
                                                _EMPTY_FLAGS),
         cygrpc.operation_send_message(REQUEST, _EMPTY_FLAGS),
@@ -239,7 +240,7 @@ class ServerClientMixin(object):
         cygrpc.operation_receive_initial_metadata(_EMPTY_FLAGS),
         cygrpc.operation_receive_message(_EMPTY_FLAGS),
         cygrpc.operation_receive_status_on_client(_EMPTY_FLAGS)
-    ]), client_call_tag)
+    ], client_call_tag)
     self.assertEqual(cygrpc.CallError.ok, client_start_batch_result)
     client_event_future = test_utilities.CompletionQueuePollFuture(
         self.client_completion_queue, cygrpc_deadline)
@@ -268,7 +269,7 @@ class ServerClientMixin(object):
     server_trailing_metadata = cygrpc.Metadata([
         cygrpc.Metadatum(SERVER_TRAILING_METADATA_KEY,
                          SERVER_TRAILING_METADATA_VALUE)])
-    server_start_batch_result = server_call.start_batch([
+    server_start_batch_result = server_call.start_server_batch([
         cygrpc.operation_send_initial_metadata(server_initial_metadata,
                                                _EMPTY_FLAGS),
         cygrpc.operation_receive_message(_EMPTY_FLAGS),