The described embodiments include a networking subsystem in a second computing device that is configured to receive a task message from a first computing device. Based on the task message, the networking subsystem updates an entry in a task queue with task information from the task message. A processing subsystem in the second computing device subsequently retrieves the task information from the task queue and performs the corresponding task. In these embodiments, the networking subsystem processes the task message (e.g., stores the task information in the task queue) without causing the processing subsystem to perform operations for processing the task message.