diff --git a/python/cudf/cudf/_lib/column.pyx b/python/cudf/cudf/_lib/column.pyx
index 6b907163bdb..8066858f422 100644
--- a/python/cudf/cudf/_lib/column.pyx
+++ b/python/cudf/cudf/_lib/column.pyx
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ cdef class Column:
             # be expensive.
             hasattr(value, "__cuda_array_interface__")
         ):
-            if isinstance(value, Buffer):
+            if isinstance(value, RefCountableBuffer):
                 value = SimpleNamespace(
                     __cuda_array_interface__=value._cai,
                     owner=value
diff --git a/python/cudf/cudf/options.py b/python/cudf/cudf/options.py
index 115128921c8..54fedb7b23e 100644
--- a/python/cudf/cudf/options.py
+++ b/python/cudf/cudf/options.py
@@ -166,6 +166,25 @@ def _validator(val):
     return _validator
 
 
+def _make_spill_validator(valid_options):
+    def _validator(val):
+        try:
+            if get_option("copy_on_write") and val:
+                raise ValueError(
+                    "Spilling is not supported when copy on write is enabled. "
+                    "Please set `copy_on_write` to `False`"
+                )
+        except KeyError:
+            pass
+        if val not in valid_options:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"{val} is not a valid option. "
+                f"Must be one of {set(valid_options)}."
+            )
+
+    return _validator
+
+
 def _integer_validator(val):
     try:
         int(val)
@@ -230,7 +249,7 @@ def _integer_and_none_validator(val):
         \tValid values are True or False. Default is False.
         """
     ),
-    _make_contains_validator([False, True]),
+    _make_spill_validator([False, True]),
 )