diff --git a/openraft/src/core/mod.rs b/openraft/src/core/mod.rs
index f95aacfb0..ce9ffab2c 100644
--- a/openraft/src/core/mod.rs
+++ b/openraft/src/core/mod.rs
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ pub struct RaftCore<C: RaftTypeConfig, N: RaftNetworkFactory<C>, S: RaftStorage<
     tx_compaction: mpsc::Sender<SnapshotUpdate<C>>,
     rx_compaction: mpsc::Receiver<SnapshotUpdate<C>>,
 
-    rx_api: mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<(RaftMsg<C>, Span)>,
+    rx_api: mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<(RaftMsg<C, N, S>, Span)>,
 
     tx_metrics: watch::Sender<RaftMetrics<C>>,
 
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ impl<C: RaftTypeConfig, N: RaftNetworkFactory<C>, S: RaftStorage<C>> RaftCore<C,
         config: Arc<Config>,
         network: N,
         storage: S,
-        rx_api: mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<(RaftMsg<C>, Span)>,
+        rx_api: mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<(RaftMsg<C, N, S>, Span)>,
         tx_metrics: watch::Sender<RaftMetrics<C>>,
         rx_shutdown: oneshot::Receiver<()>,
     ) -> JoinHandle<Result<(), Fatal<C>>> {
@@ -849,7 +849,7 @@ impl<'a, C: RaftTypeConfig, N: RaftNetworkFactory<C>, S: RaftStorage<C>> LeaderS
     }
 
     #[tracing::instrument(level = "debug", skip(self, msg), fields(state = "leader", id=display(self.core.id)))]
-    pub async fn handle_msg(&mut self, msg: RaftMsg<C>) -> Result<(), Fatal<C>> {
+    pub async fn handle_msg(&mut self, msg: RaftMsg<C, N, S>) -> Result<(), Fatal<C>> {
         tracing::debug!("recv from rx_api: {}", msg.summary());
 
         match msg {
@@ -885,6 +885,9 @@ impl<'a, C: RaftTypeConfig, N: RaftNetworkFactory<C>, S: RaftStorage<C>> LeaderS
             } => {
                 self.change_membership(members, blocking, turn_to_learner, tx).await?;
             }
+            RaftMsg::ExternalRequest { req } => {
+                req(State::Leader, &mut self.core.storage, &mut self.core.network);
+            }
         };
 
         Ok(())
@@ -1016,7 +1019,7 @@ impl<'a, C: RaftTypeConfig, N: RaftNetworkFactory<C>, S: RaftStorage<C>> Candida
     }
 
     #[tracing::instrument(level = "debug", skip(self, msg), fields(state = "candidate", id=display(self.core.id)))]
-    pub async fn handle_msg(&mut self, msg: RaftMsg<C>) -> Result<(), Fatal<C>> {
+    pub async fn handle_msg(&mut self, msg: RaftMsg<C, N, S>) -> Result<(), Fatal<C>> {
         tracing::debug!("recv from rx_api: {}", msg.summary());
         match msg {
             RaftMsg::AppendEntries { rpc, tx } => {
@@ -1043,6 +1046,9 @@ impl<'a, C: RaftTypeConfig, N: RaftNetworkFactory<C>, S: RaftStorage<C>> Candida
             RaftMsg::ChangeMembership { tx, .. } => {
                 self.core.reject_with_forward_to_leader(tx);
             }
+            RaftMsg::ExternalRequest { req } => {
+                req(State::Candidate, &mut self.core.storage, &mut self.core.network);
+            }
         };
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -1091,7 +1097,7 @@ impl<'a, C: RaftTypeConfig, N: RaftNetworkFactory<C>, S: RaftStorage<C>> Followe
     }
 
     #[tracing::instrument(level = "debug", skip(self, msg), fields(state = "follower", id=display(self.core.id)))]
-    pub(crate) async fn handle_msg(&mut self, msg: RaftMsg<C>) -> Result<(), Fatal<C>> {
+    pub(crate) async fn handle_msg(&mut self, msg: RaftMsg<C, N, S>) -> Result<(), Fatal<C>> {
         tracing::debug!("recv from rx_api: {}", msg.summary());
 
         match msg {
@@ -1119,6 +1125,9 @@ impl<'a, C: RaftTypeConfig, N: RaftNetworkFactory<C>, S: RaftStorage<C>> Followe
             RaftMsg::ChangeMembership { tx, .. } => {
                 self.core.reject_with_forward_to_leader(tx);
             }
+            RaftMsg::ExternalRequest { req } => {
+                req(State::Follower, &mut self.core.storage, &mut self.core.network);
+            }
         };
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -1165,7 +1174,7 @@ impl<'a, C: RaftTypeConfig, N: RaftNetworkFactory<C>, S: RaftStorage<C>> Learner
 
     // TODO(xp): define a handle_msg method in RaftCore that decides what to do by current State.
     #[tracing::instrument(level = "debug", skip(self, msg), fields(state = "learner", id=display(self.core.id)))]
-    pub(crate) async fn handle_msg(&mut self, msg: RaftMsg<C>) -> Result<(), Fatal<C>> {
+    pub(crate) async fn handle_msg(&mut self, msg: RaftMsg<C, N, S>) -> Result<(), Fatal<C>> {
         tracing::debug!("recv from rx_api: {}", msg.summary());
 
         match msg {
@@ -1193,6 +1202,9 @@ impl<'a, C: RaftTypeConfig, N: RaftNetworkFactory<C>, S: RaftStorage<C>> Learner
             RaftMsg::ChangeMembership { tx, .. } => {
                 self.core.reject_with_forward_to_leader(tx);
             }
+            RaftMsg::ExternalRequest { req } => {
+                req(State::Learner, &mut self.core.storage, &mut self.core.network);
+            }
         };
         Ok(())
     }
diff --git a/openraft/src/raft.rs b/openraft/src/raft.rs
index c91bae6a8..945565f50 100644
--- a/openraft/src/raft.rs
+++ b/openraft/src/raft.rs
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ use crate::NodeId;
 use crate::RaftNetworkFactory;
 use crate::RaftStorage;
 use crate::SnapshotMeta;
+use crate::State;
 use crate::Vote;
 
 /// Configuration of types used by the [`Raft`] core engine.
@@ -104,7 +105,7 @@ macro_rules! declare_raft_types {
 }
 
 struct RaftInner<C: RaftTypeConfig, N: RaftNetworkFactory<C>, S: RaftStorage<C>> {
-    tx_api: mpsc::UnboundedSender<(RaftMsg<C>, Span)>,
+    tx_api: mpsc::UnboundedSender<(RaftMsg<C, N, S>, Span)>,
     rx_metrics: watch::Receiver<RaftMetrics<C>>,
     #[allow(clippy::type_complexity)]
     raft_handle: Mutex<Option<JoinHandle<Result<(), Fatal<C>>>>>,
@@ -407,7 +408,7 @@ impl<C: RaftTypeConfig, N: RaftNetworkFactory<C>, S: RaftStorage<C>> Raft<C, N,
 
     /// Invoke RaftCore by sending a RaftMsg and blocks waiting for response.
     #[tracing::instrument(level = "debug", skip(self, mes, rx))]
-    pub(crate) async fn call_core<T, E>(&self, mes: RaftMsg<C>, rx: RaftRespRx<T, E>) -> Result<T, E>
+    pub(crate) async fn call_core<T, E>(&self, mes: RaftMsg<C, N, S>, rx: RaftRespRx<T, E>) -> Result<T, E>
     where E: From<Fatal<C>> {
         let span = tracing::Span::current();
 
@@ -451,6 +452,25 @@ impl<C: RaftTypeConfig, N: RaftNetworkFactory<C>, S: RaftStorage<C>> Raft<C, N,
         res
     }
 
+    /// Send a request to the Raft core loop in a fire-and-forget manner.
+    ///
+    /// The request functor will be called with a mutable reference to both the state machine
+    /// and the network factory and serialized with other Raft core loop processing (e.g., client
+    /// requests or general state changes). The current state of the system is passed as well.
+    ///
+    /// If a response is required, then the caller can store the sender of a one-shot channel
+    /// in the closure of the request functor, which can then be used to send the response
+    /// asynchronously.
+    ///
+    /// If the API channel is already closed (Raft is in shutdown), then the request functor is
+    /// destroyed right away and not called at all.
+    pub fn external_request<F: FnOnce(State, &mut S, &mut N) + Send + 'static>(&self, req: F) {
+        let _ignore_error = self.inner.tx_api.send((
+            RaftMsg::ExternalRequest { req: Box::new(req) },
+            tracing::span::Span::none(), // fire-and-forget, so no span
+        ));
+    }
+
     /// Get a handle to the metrics channel.
     pub fn metrics(&self) -> watch::Receiver<RaftMetrics<C>> {
         self.inner.rx_metrics.clone()
@@ -513,7 +533,7 @@ pub struct AddLearnerResponse<C: RaftTypeConfig> {
 }
 
 /// A message coming from the Raft API.
-pub(crate) enum RaftMsg<C: RaftTypeConfig> {
+pub(crate) enum RaftMsg<C: RaftTypeConfig, N: RaftNetworkFactory<C>, S: RaftStorage<C>> {
     AppendEntries {
         rpc: AppendEntriesRequest<C>,
         tx: RaftRespTx<AppendEntriesResponse<C>, AppendEntriesError<C>>,
@@ -564,10 +584,16 @@ pub(crate) enum RaftMsg<C: RaftTypeConfig> {
 
         tx: RaftRespTx<ClientWriteResponse<C>, ClientWriteError<C>>,
     },
+    ExternalRequest {
+        req: Box<dyn FnOnce(State, &mut S, &mut N) + Send + 'static>,
+    },
 }
 
-impl<C> MessageSummary for RaftMsg<C>
-where C: RaftTypeConfig
+impl<C, N, S> MessageSummary for RaftMsg<C, N, S>
+where
+    C: RaftTypeConfig,
+    N: RaftNetworkFactory<C>,
+    S: RaftStorage<C>,
 {
     fn summary(&self) -> String {
         match self {
@@ -601,6 +627,7 @@ where C: RaftTypeConfig
                     members, blocking, turn_to_learner,
                 )
             }
+            RaftMsg::ExternalRequest { .. } => "External Request".to_string(),
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/openraft/tests/fixtures/mod.rs b/openraft/tests/fixtures/mod.rs
index 657ff94aa..5faa73191 100644
--- a/openraft/tests/fixtures/mod.rs
+++ b/openraft/tests/fixtures/mod.rs
@@ -577,6 +577,19 @@ where
         }
     }
 
+    /// Send external request to the particular node.
+    pub fn external_request<F: FnOnce(State, &mut StoreExt<C, S>, &mut TypedRaftRouter<C, S>) + Send + 'static>(
+        &self,
+        target: C::NodeId,
+        req: F,
+    ) {
+        let rt = self.routing_table.lock().unwrap();
+        rt.get(&target)
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| panic!("node '{}' does not exist in routing table", target))
+            .0
+            .external_request(req)
+    }
+
     /// Request the current leader from the target node.
     pub async fn current_leader(&self, target: C::NodeId) -> Option<C::NodeId> {
         let node = self.get_raft_handle(&target).unwrap();
diff --git a/openraft/tests/initialization.rs b/openraft/tests/initialization.rs
index c44bbba94..12f56c3a3 100644
--- a/openraft/tests/initialization.rs
+++ b/openraft/tests/initialization.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ use openraft::Membership;
 use openraft::RaftLogReader;
 use openraft::RaftStorage;
 use openraft::State;
+use tokio::sync::oneshot;
 
 #[macro_use]
 mod fixtures;
@@ -47,6 +48,23 @@ async fn initialization() -> Result<()> {
     router.wait_for_state(&btreeset![0, 1, 2], State::Learner, timeout(), "empty").await?;
     router.assert_pristine_cluster().await;
 
+    // Sending an external requests will also find all nodes in Learner state.
+    //
+    // This demonstrates fire-and-forget external request, which will be serialized
+    // with other processing. It is not required for the correctness of the test
+    //
+    // Since the execution of API messages is serialized, even if the request executes
+    // some unknown time in the future (due to fire-and-forget semantics), it will
+    // properly receive the state before initialization, as that state will appear
+    // later in the sequence.
+    //
+    // Also, this external request will be definitely executed, since it's ordered
+    // before other requests in the Raft core API queue, which definitely are executed
+    // (since they are awaited).
+    for node in [0, 1, 2] {
+        router.external_request(node, |s, _sm, _net| assert_eq!(s, State::Learner));
+    }
+
     // Initialize the cluster, then assert that a stable cluster was formed & held.
     tracing::info!("--- initializing cluster");
     router.initialize_from_single_node(0).await?;
@@ -78,6 +96,31 @@ async fn initialization() -> Result<()> {
         );
     }
 
+    // At this time, one of the nodes is the leader, all the others are followers.
+    // Check via an external request as well. Again, this is not required for the
+    // correctness of the test.
+    //
+    // This demonstrates how to synchronize on the execution of the external
+    // request by using a oneshot channel.
+    let mut found_leader = false;
+    let mut follower_count = 0;
+    for node in [0, 1, 2] {
+        let (tx, rx) = oneshot::channel();
+        router.external_request(node, |s, _sm, _net| tx.send(s).unwrap());
+        match rx.await.unwrap() {
+            State::Leader => {
+                assert!(!found_leader);
+                found_leader = true;
+            }
+            State::Follower => {
+                follower_count += 1;
+            }
+            s => panic!("Unexpected node {} state: {:?}", node, s),
+        }
+    }
+    assert!(found_leader);
+    assert_eq!(2, follower_count);
+
     Ok(())
 }