diff --git a/ironic/conductor/base_manager.py b/ironic/conductor/base_manager.py
index ab928595a3..4452fa1be2 100644
--- a/ironic/conductor/base_manager.py
+++ b/ironic/conductor/base_manager.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ from ironic.common import rpc
 from ironic.common import states
 from ironic.conductor import task_manager
 from ironic.db import api as dbapi
+from ironic import objects
 
 
 conductor_opts = [
@@ -141,8 +142,8 @@ class BaseConductorManager(object):
         self.dbapi.clear_node_reservations_for_conductor(self.host)
         try:
             # Register this conductor with the cluster
-            cdr = self.dbapi.register_conductor({'hostname': self.host,
-                                                 'drivers': driver_names})
+            self.conductor = objects.Conductor.register(
+                admin_context, self.host, driver_names)
         except exception.ConductorAlreadyRegistered:
             # This conductor was already registered and did not shut down
             # properly, so log a warning and update the record.
@@ -150,10 +151,8 @@ class BaseConductorManager(object):
                 _LW("A conductor with hostname %(hostname)s "
                     "was previously registered. Updating registration"),
                 {'hostname': self.host})
-            cdr = self.dbapi.register_conductor({'hostname': self.host,
-                                                 'drivers': driver_names},
-                                                update_existing=True)
-        self.conductor = cdr
+            self.conductor = objects.Conductor.register(
+                admin_context, self.host, driver_names, update_existing=True)
 
         # Start periodic tasks
         self._periodic_tasks_worker = self._executor.submit(
@@ -201,7 +200,7 @@ class BaseConductorManager(object):
                 # Inform the cluster that this conductor is shutting down.
                 # Note that rebalancing will not occur immediately, but when
                 # the periodic sync takes place.
-                self.dbapi.unregister_conductor(self.host)
+                self.conductor.unregister()
                 LOG.info(_LI('Successfully stopped conductor with hostname '
                              '%(hostname)s.'),
                          {'hostname': self.host})
@@ -283,7 +282,7 @@ class BaseConductorManager(object):
     def _conductor_service_record_keepalive(self):
         while not self._keepalive_evt.is_set():
             try:
-                self.dbapi.touch_conductor(self.host)
+                self.conductor.touch()
             except db_exception.DBConnectionError:
                 LOG.warning(_LW('Conductor could not connect to database '
                                 'while heartbeating.'))
diff --git a/ironic/objects/conductor.py b/ironic/objects/conductor.py
index 56ce7cdb75..4b69218aec 100644
--- a/ironic/objects/conductor.py
+++ b/ironic/objects/conductor.py
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ from ironic.objects import fields as object_fields
 
 @base.IronicObjectRegistry.register
 class Conductor(base.IronicObject, object_base.VersionedObjectDictCompat):
+    # Version 1.0: Initial version
+    # Version 1.1: Add register() and unregister(), make the context parameter
+    #              to touch() optional.
+    VERSION = '1.1'
 
     dbapi = db_api.get_instance()
 
@@ -79,6 +83,37 @@ class Conductor(base.IronicObject, object_base.VersionedObjectDictCompat):
     # methods can be used in the future to replace current explicit RPC calls.
     # Implications of calling new remote procedures should be thought through.
     # @object_base.remotable
-    def touch(self, context):
+    def touch(self, context=None):
         """Touch this conductor's DB record, marking it as up-to-date."""
         self.dbapi.touch_conductor(self.hostname)
+
+    # NOTE(xek): We don't want to enable RPC on this call just yet. Remotable
+    # methods can be used in the future to replace current explicit RPC calls.
+    # Implications of calling new remote procedures should be thought through.
+    # @object_base.remotable
+    @classmethod
+    def register(cls, context, hostname, drivers, update_existing=False):
+        """Register an active conductor with the cluster.
+
+        :param hostname: the hostname on which the conductor will run
+        :param drivers: the list of drivers enabled in the conductor
+        :param update_existing: When false, registration will raise an
+                                exception when a conflicting online record
+                                is found. When true, will overwrite the
+                                existing record. Default: False.
+        :raises: ConductorAlreadyRegistered
+        :returns: a :class:`Conductor` object.
+
+        """
+        db_cond = cls.dbapi.register_conductor({'hostname': hostname,
+                                                'drivers': drivers},
+                                               update_existing=update_existing)
+        return Conductor._from_db_object(cls(context), db_cond)
+
+    # NOTE(xek): We don't want to enable RPC on this call just yet. Remotable
+    # methods can be used in the future to replace current explicit RPC calls.
+    # Implications of calling new remote procedures should be thought through.
+    # @object_base.remotable
+    def unregister(self, context=None):
+        """Remove this conductor from the service registry."""
+        self.dbapi.unregister_conductor(self.hostname)
diff --git a/ironic/tests/unit/objects/test_conductor.py b/ironic/tests/unit/objects/test_conductor.py
index 6cb8e6bc0d..29242665b4 100644
--- a/ironic/tests/unit/objects/test_conductor.py
+++ b/ironic/tests/unit/objects/test_conductor.py
@@ -85,3 +85,34 @@ class TestConductorObject(base.DbTestCase):
                 c.updated_at)
             self.assertEqual(expected, mock_get_cdr.call_args_list)
             self.assertEqual(self.context, c._context)
+
+    def _test_register(self, update_existing=False):
+        host = self.fake_conductor['hostname']
+        drivers = self.fake_conductor['drivers']
+        with mock.patch.object(self.dbapi, 'register_conductor',
+                               autospec=True) as mock_register_cdr:
+            mock_register_cdr.return_value = self.fake_conductor
+            c = objects.Conductor.register(self.context, host, drivers,
+                                           update_existing=update_existing)
+
+            self.assertIsInstance(c, objects.Conductor)
+            mock_register_cdr.assert_called_once_with(
+                {'drivers': drivers, 'hostname': host},
+                update_existing=update_existing)
+
+    def test_register(self):
+        self._test_register()
+
+    def test_register_update_existing_true(self):
+        self._test_register(update_existing=True)
+
+    def test_unregister(self):
+        host = self.fake_conductor['hostname']
+        with mock.patch.object(self.dbapi, 'get_conductor',
+                               autospec=True) as mock_get_cdr:
+            with mock.patch.object(self.dbapi, 'unregister_conductor',
+                                   autospec=True) as mock_unregister_cdr:
+                mock_get_cdr.return_value = self.fake_conductor
+                c = objects.Conductor.get_by_hostname(self.context, host)
+                c.unregister()
+                mock_unregister_cdr.assert_called_once_with(host)
diff --git a/ironic/tests/unit/objects/test_objects.py b/ironic/tests/unit/objects/test_objects.py
index ce52ad8ee1..391f6ca40a 100644
--- a/ironic/tests/unit/objects/test_objects.py
+++ b/ironic/tests/unit/objects/test_objects.py
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ expected_object_fingerprints = {
     'Chassis': '1.3-d656e039fd8ae9f34efc232ab3980905',
     'Port': '1.5-a224755c3da5bc5cf1a14a11c0d00f3f',
     'Portgroup': '1.0-1ac4db8fa31edd9e1637248ada4c25a1',
-    'Conductor': '1.0-5091f249719d4a465062a1b3dc7f860d'
+    'Conductor': '1.1-5091f249719d4a465062a1b3dc7f860d'
 }