diff --git a/modin/core/execution/ray/implementations/pandas_on_ray/partitioning/partition.py b/modin/core/execution/ray/implementations/pandas_on_ray/partitioning/partition.py
index c7f6bacd244..6766f53536e 100644
--- a/modin/core/execution/ray/implementations/pandas_on_ray/partitioning/partition.py
+++ b/modin/core/execution/ray/implementations/pandas_on_ray/partitioning/partition.py
@@ -98,8 +98,19 @@ def apply(self, func: Callable, *args, **kwargs):
 
         Note: the function is not applied immediately but is added to the execution tree.
         """
-        de = DeferredExecution(self._data_ref, func, args, kwargs)
-        return self.__constructor__(de)
+        data = self._data_ref
+        if not isinstance(data, DeferredExecution):
+            flat_args = not has_list_or_de(args)
+            flat_kwargs = not has_list_or_de(kwargs.values())
+            if flat_args and flat_kwargs:
+                result = remote_exec_func.remote(func, data, *args, **kwargs)
+                return self.__constructor__(*result)
+            de = DeferredExecution(data, func, args, kwargs, 1, flat_args, flat_kwargs)
+        else:
+            de = DeferredExecution(data, func, args, kwargs)
+        part = self.__constructor__(de)
+        part.drain_call_queue()
+        return part
 
     @_inherit_docstrings(PandasDataframePartition.add_to_apply_calls)
     def add_to_apply_calls(self, func, *args, length=None, width=None, **kwargs):