diff --git a/src/client/inc/tsclient.h b/src/client/inc/tsclient.h
index 1c2821638bd24d67c51985a9e67da26e83e768b8..4c85af4919c74de5f41272272bd1bdbf4f6c6da3 100644
--- a/src/client/inc/tsclient.h
+++ b/src/client/inc/tsclient.h
@@ -330,6 +330,7 @@ typedef struct STscObj {
   char               writeAuth : 1;
   char               superAuth : 1;
   uint32_t           connId;
+  uint64_t           rid;      // ref ID returned by taosAddRef
   struct SSqlObj *   pHb;
   struct SSqlObj *   sqlList;
   struct SSqlStream *streamList;
@@ -348,7 +349,7 @@ typedef struct SSqlObj {
   void            *signature;
   pthread_t        owner;        // owner of sql object, by which it is executed
   STscObj         *pTscObj;
-  void            *pRpcCtx;
+  int64_t          rpcRid;
   void            (*fp)();
   void            (*fetchFp)();
   void            *param;
diff --git a/src/client/src/tscServer.c b/src/client/src/tscServer.c
index 1584afe706e21d1a16e4ab914297aadaccbbf1b3..a3e2eba168b4e98863fdf71177c5c8c5e97535e5 100644
--- a/src/client/src/tscServer.c
+++ b/src/client/src/tscServer.c
@@ -182,27 +182,23 @@ void tscProcessHeartBeatRsp(void *param, TAOS_RES *tres, int code) {
     int32_t waitingDuring = tsShellActivityTimer * 500;
     tscDebug("%p send heartbeat in %dms", pSql, waitingDuring);
 
-    taosTmrReset(tscProcessActivityTimer, waitingDuring, pObj, tscTmr, &pObj->pTimer);
+    taosTmrReset(tscProcessActivityTimer, waitingDuring, (void *)pObj->rid, tscTmr, &pObj->pTimer);
   } else {
     tscDebug("%p start to close tscObj:%p, not send heartbeat again", pSql, pObj);
   }
 }
 
 void tscProcessActivityTimer(void *handle, void *tmrId) {
-  STscObj *pObj = (STscObj *)handle;
-
-  int ret = taosAcquireRef(tscRefId, pObj);
-  if (ret < 0) {
-    tscTrace("%p failed to acquire TSC obj, reason:%s", pObj, tstrerror(ret));
-    return;
-  }
+  int64_t rid = (int64_t) handle;
+  STscObj *pObj = taosAcquireRef(tscRefId, rid);
+  if (pObj == NULL) return; 
 
   SSqlObj* pHB = pObj->pHb;
 
   void** p = taosCacheAcquireByKey(tscObjCache, &pHB, sizeof(TSDB_CACHE_PTR_TYPE));
   if (p == NULL) {
     tscWarn("%p HB object has been released already", pHB);
-    taosReleaseRef(tscRefId, pObj);
+    taosReleaseRef(tscRefId, pObj->rid);
     return;
   }
 
@@ -216,7 +212,7 @@ void tscProcessActivityTimer(void *handle, void *tmrId) {
     tscError("%p failed to sent HB to server, reason:%s", pHB, tstrerror(code));
   }
 
-  taosReleaseRef(tscRefId, pObj);
+  taosReleaseRef(tscRefId, rid);
 }
 
 int tscSendMsgToServer(SSqlObj *pSql) {
@@ -241,7 +237,7 @@ int tscSendMsgToServer(SSqlObj *pSql) {
       .pCont   = pMsg,
       .contLen = pSql->cmd.payloadLen,
       .ahandle = pSql,
-      .handle  = &pSql->pRpcCtx,
+      .handle  = NULL,
       .code    = 0
   };
 
@@ -249,7 +245,7 @@ int tscSendMsgToServer(SSqlObj *pSql) {
   // Otherwise, the pSql object may have been released already during the response function, which is
   // processMsgFromServer function. In the meanwhile, the assignment of the rpc context to sql object will absolutely
   // cause crash.
-  rpcSendRequest(pObj->pDnodeConn, &pSql->epSet, &rpcMsg);
+  pSql->rpcRid = rpcSendRequest(pObj->pDnodeConn, &pSql->epSet, &rpcMsg);
   return TSDB_CODE_SUCCESS;
 }
 
@@ -269,7 +265,7 @@ void tscProcessMsgFromServer(SRpcMsg *rpcMsg, SRpcEpSet *pEpSet) {
   SSqlCmd *pCmd = &pSql->cmd;
 
   assert(*pSql->self == pSql);
-  pSql->pRpcCtx = NULL;
+  pSql->rpcRid = -1;
 
   if (pObj->signature != pObj) {
     tscDebug("%p DB connection is closed, cmd:%d pObj:%p signature:%p", pSql, pCmd->command, pObj, pObj->signature);
@@ -2026,7 +2022,7 @@ int tscProcessConnectRsp(SSqlObj *pSql) {
   createHBObj(pObj);
 
   //launch a timer to send heartbeat to maintain the connection and send status to mnode
-  taosTmrReset(tscProcessActivityTimer, tsShellActivityTimer * 500, pObj, tscTmr, &pObj->pTimer);
+  taosTmrReset(tscProcessActivityTimer, tsShellActivityTimer * 500, (void *)pObj->rid, tscTmr, &pObj->pTimer);
 
   return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/client/src/tscSql.c b/src/client/src/tscSql.c
index 89dfa24e8fe2cef32673fb2016fa538f218d1bcf..bdc46c544670e790cc15b308b24e795f69f24e04 100644
--- a/src/client/src/tscSql.c
+++ b/src/client/src/tscSql.c
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ static SSqlObj *taosConnectImpl(const char *ip, const char *user, const char *pa
   registerSqlObj(pSql);
   tsInsertHeadSize = sizeof(SMsgDesc) + sizeof(SSubmitMsg);
 
-  taosAddRef(tscRefId, pObj);
+  pObj->rid = taosAddRef(tscRefId, pObj);
   return pSql;
 }
 
@@ -279,9 +279,9 @@ void taos_close(TAOS *taos) {
 
   SSqlObj* pHb = pObj->pHb;
   if (pHb != NULL && atomic_val_compare_exchange_ptr(&pObj->pHb, pHb, 0) == pHb) {
-    if (pHb->pRpcCtx != NULL) {  // wait for rsp from dnode
-      rpcCancelRequest(pHb->pRpcCtx);
-      pHb->pRpcCtx = NULL;
+    if (pHb->rpcRid > 0) {  // wait for rsp from dnode
+      rpcCancelRequest(pHb->rpcRid);
+      pHb->rpcRid = -1;
     }
 
     tscDebug("%p HB is freed", pHb);
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ void taos_close(TAOS *taos) {
 
   tscDebug("%p all sqlObj are freed, free tscObj and close dnodeConn:%p", pObj, pObj->pDnodeConn);
 
-  taosRemoveRef(tscRefId, pObj);
+  taosRemoveRef(tscRefId, pObj->rid);
 }
 
 void waitForQueryRsp(void *param, TAOS_RES *tres, int code) {
@@ -748,9 +748,9 @@ static void tscKillSTableQuery(SSqlObj *pSql) {
     assert(pSubObj->self == (SSqlObj**) p);
 
     pSubObj->res.code = TSDB_CODE_TSC_QUERY_CANCELLED;
-    if (pSubObj->pRpcCtx != NULL) {
-      rpcCancelRequest(pSubObj->pRpcCtx);
-      pSubObj->pRpcCtx = NULL;
+    if (pSubObj->rpcRid > 0) {
+      rpcCancelRequest(pSubObj->rpcRid);
+      pSubObj->rpcRid = -1;
     }
 
     tscQueueAsyncRes(pSubObj);
@@ -775,7 +775,7 @@ void taos_stop_query(TAOS_RES *res) {
   SQueryInfo *pQueryInfo = tscGetQueryInfoDetail(pCmd, pCmd->clauseIndex);
 
   if (tscIsTwoStageSTableQuery(pQueryInfo, 0)) {
-    assert(pSql->pRpcCtx == NULL);
+    assert(pSql->rpcRid <= 0);
     tscKillSTableQuery(pSql);
   } else {
     if (pSql->cmd.command < TSDB_SQL_LOCAL) {
@@ -784,9 +784,9 @@ void taos_stop_query(TAOS_RES *res) {
        * reset and freed in the processMsgFromServer function, and causes the invalid
        * write problem for rpcCancelRequest.
        */
-      if (pSql->pRpcCtx != NULL) {
-        rpcCancelRequest(pSql->pRpcCtx);
-        pSql->pRpcCtx = NULL;
+      if (pSql->rpcRid > 0) {
+        rpcCancelRequest(pSql->rpcRid);
+        pSql->rpcRid = -1;
       }
 
       tscQueueAsyncRes(pSql);
diff --git a/src/client/src/tscUtil.c b/src/client/src/tscUtil.c
index 879eeeadedf03afc2a6dbd240c5500c801efc483..2aee90653dfb790e3aae23c3804975af97a65311 100644
--- a/src/client/src/tscUtil.c
+++ b/src/client/src/tscUtil.c
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ void tscFreeRegisteredSqlObj(void *pSql) {
   tscDebug("%p free sqlObj completed, tscObj:%p ref:%d", *p, pTscObj, ref);
   if (ref == 0) {
     tscDebug("%p all sqlObj freed, free tscObj:%p", *p, pTscObj);
-    taosRemoveRef(tscRefId, pTscObj);
+    taosRemoveRef(tscRefId, pTscObj->rid);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/inc/trpc.h b/src/inc/trpc.h
index bdee917b5e8203743a79ca27d8fbc987569c35ab..e430a43807bc6fb0dd5c48d8a912223c1ba015af 100644
--- a/src/inc/trpc.h
+++ b/src/inc/trpc.h
@@ -83,13 +83,13 @@ void  rpcClose(void *);
 void *rpcMallocCont(int contLen);
 void  rpcFreeCont(void *pCont);
 void *rpcReallocCont(void *ptr, int contLen);
-void  rpcSendRequest(void *thandle, const SRpcEpSet *pEpSet, SRpcMsg *pMsg);
+int64_t rpcSendRequest(void *thandle, const SRpcEpSet *pEpSet, SRpcMsg *pMsg);
 void  rpcSendResponse(const SRpcMsg *pMsg);
 void  rpcSendRedirectRsp(void *pConn, const SRpcEpSet *pEpSet); 
 int   rpcGetConnInfo(void *thandle, SRpcConnInfo *pInfo);
 void  rpcSendRecv(void *shandle, SRpcEpSet *pEpSet, SRpcMsg *pReq, SRpcMsg *pRsp);
 int   rpcReportProgress(void *pConn, char *pCont, int contLen);
-void  rpcCancelRequest(void *pContext);
+void  rpcCancelRequest(int64_t rid);
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
diff --git a/src/inc/tsync.h b/src/inc/tsync.h
index 671adefab83fed42f7bc3fb0ad9591050f118e73..1b16fef84ceeeaa78a4aadb1ca64c5d0ba099287 100644
--- a/src/inc/tsync.h
+++ b/src/inc/tsync.h
@@ -106,13 +106,13 @@ typedef void* tsync_h;
 int32_t syncInit();
 void    syncCleanUp();
 
-tsync_h syncStart(const SSyncInfo *);
-void    syncStop(tsync_h shandle);
-int32_t syncReconfig(tsync_h shandle, const SSyncCfg *);
-int32_t syncForwardToPeer(tsync_h shandle, void *pHead, void *mhandle, int qtype);
-void    syncConfirmForward(tsync_h shandle, uint64_t version, int32_t code);
-void    syncRecover(tsync_h shandle);      // recover from other nodes:
-int     syncGetNodesRole(tsync_h shandle, SNodesRole *);
+int64_t syncStart(const SSyncInfo *);
+void    syncStop(int64_t rid);
+int32_t syncReconfig(int64_t rid, const SSyncCfg *);
+int32_t syncForwardToPeer(int64_t rid, void *pHead, void *mhandle, int qtype);
+void    syncConfirmForward(int64_t rid, uint64_t version, int32_t code);
+void    syncRecover(int64_t rid);      // recover from other nodes:
+int     syncGetNodesRole(int64_t rid, SNodesRole *);
 
 extern  char *syncRole[];
 
diff --git a/src/mnode/src/mnodeSdb.c b/src/mnode/src/mnodeSdb.c
index 8fb0b330605ec6cd63a60ad9e64a5e8dc62b67d4..f6acb6826c65f35d4007365d68394c2bd8130f13 100644
--- a/src/mnode/src/mnodeSdb.c
+++ b/src/mnode/src/mnodeSdb.c
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ typedef struct {
   ESyncRole  role;
   ESdbStatus status;
   int64_t    version;
-  void *     sync;
+  int64_t    sync;
   void *     wal;
   SSyncCfg   cfg;
   int32_t    numOfTables;
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ static void sdbRestoreTables() {
 }
 
 void sdbUpdateMnodeRoles() {
-  if (tsSdbObj.sync == NULL) return;
+  if (tsSdbObj.sync <= 0) return;
 
   SNodesRole roles = {0};
   syncGetNodesRole(tsSdbObj.sync, &roles);
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ void sdbCleanUp() {
 
   if (tsSdbObj.sync) {
     syncStop(tsSdbObj.sync);
-    tsSdbObj.sync = NULL;
+    tsSdbObj.sync = -1;
   }
 
   if (tsSdbObj.wal) {
diff --git a/src/rpc/src/rpcMain.c b/src/rpc/src/rpcMain.c
index 05330ebff890ad71c37b1e72f4332e489eab6ac8..dc67f6a80f0246ddd6e23f2771130568eb7644d7 100644
--- a/src/rpc/src/rpcMain.c
+++ b/src/rpc/src/rpcMain.c
@@ -560,7 +560,7 @@ void rpcCancelRequest(int64_t rid) {
 
   rpcCloseConn(pContext->pConn);
 
-  taosReleaseRef(tsRpcRefId, pContext);
+  taosReleaseRef(tsRpcRefId, rid);
 }
 
 static void rpcFreeMsg(void *msg) {
@@ -629,7 +629,7 @@ static void rpcReleaseConn(SRpcConn *pConn) {
     // if there is an outgoing message, free it
     if (pConn->outType && pConn->pReqMsg) {
       if (pConn->pContext) pConn->pContext->pConn = NULL; 
-      taosRemoveRef(tsRpcRefId, pConn->pContext);
+      taosRemoveRef(tsRpcRefId, pConn->pContext->rid);
     }
   }
 
@@ -1110,7 +1110,7 @@ static void rpcNotifyClient(SRpcReqContext *pContext, SRpcMsg *pMsg) {
   }
 
   // free the request message
-  taosRemoveRef(tsRpcRefId, pContext); 
+  taosRemoveRef(tsRpcRefId, pContext->rid); 
 }
 
 static void rpcProcessIncomingMsg(SRpcConn *pConn, SRpcHead *pHead, SRpcReqContext *pContext) {
diff --git a/src/sync/inc/syncInt.h b/src/sync/inc/syncInt.h
index f6818106462cb9c9d694d59c7cb9012cd1a54c8b..8808a82c463cd9023395881871b99d531a93fc97 100644
--- a/src/sync/inc/syncInt.h
+++ b/src/sync/inc/syncInt.h
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ typedef struct SSyncNode {
   int8_t       replica;
   int8_t       quorum;
   uint32_t     vgId;
+  int64_t      rid;
   void        *ahandle;
   int8_t       selfIndex;
   SSyncPeer   *peerInfo[TAOS_SYNC_MAX_REPLICA+1];  // extra one for arbitrator
diff --git a/src/sync/src/syncMain.c b/src/sync/src/syncMain.c
index 6f5e3be8ab4965331f23d2e2b7307823981205a5..74e327183b2b138ff6217f37488511a38f19ffd8 100644
--- a/src/sync/src/syncMain.c
+++ b/src/sync/src/syncMain.c
@@ -142,14 +142,14 @@ void syncCleanUp() {
   sInfo("sync module is cleaned up");
 }
 
-void *syncStart(const SSyncInfo *pInfo) {
+int64_t syncStart(const SSyncInfo *pInfo) {
   const SSyncCfg *pCfg = &pInfo->syncCfg;
 
   SSyncNode *pNode = (SSyncNode *)calloc(sizeof(SSyncNode), 1);
   if (pNode == NULL) {
     sError("no memory to allocate syncNode");
     terrno = TAOS_SYSTEM_ERROR(errno);
-    return NULL;
+    return -1;
   }
 
   tstrncpy(pNode->path, pInfo->path, sizeof(pNode->path));
@@ -170,10 +170,10 @@ void *syncStart(const SSyncInfo *pInfo) {
   pNode->quorum = pCfg->quorum;
   if (pNode->quorum > pNode->replica) pNode->quorum = pNode->replica;
 
-  int ret = taosAddRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode);
-  if (ret < 0) {
+  pNode->rid = taosAddRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode);
+  if (pNode->rid < 0) {
     syncFreeNode(pNode);
-    return NULL;
+    return -1;
   }
 
   for (int i = 0; i < pCfg->replica; ++i) {
@@ -187,8 +187,8 @@ void *syncStart(const SSyncInfo *pInfo) {
   if (pNode->selfIndex < 0) {
     sInfo("vgId:%d, this node is not configured", pNode->vgId);
     terrno = TSDB_CODE_SYN_INVALID_CONFIG;
-    syncStop(pNode);
-    return NULL;
+    syncStop(pNode->rid);
+    return -1;
   }
 
   nodeVersion = pInfo->version;  // set the initial version
@@ -200,15 +200,15 @@ void *syncStart(const SSyncInfo *pInfo) {
   if (pNode->pSyncFwds == NULL) {
     sError("vgId:%d, no memory to allocate syncFwds", pNode->vgId);
     terrno = TAOS_SYSTEM_ERROR(errno);
-    syncStop(pNode);
-    return NULL;
+    syncStop(pNode->rid);
+    return -1;
   }
 
-  pNode->pFwdTimer = taosTmrStart(syncMonitorFwdInfos, 300, pNode, syncTmrCtrl);
+  pNode->pFwdTimer = taosTmrStart(syncMonitorFwdInfos, 300, (void *)pNode->rid, syncTmrCtrl);
   if (pNode->pFwdTimer == NULL) {
     sError("vgId:%d, failed to allocate timer", pNode->vgId);
-    syncStop(pNode);
-    return NULL;
+    syncStop(pNode->rid);
+    return -1;
   }
 
   syncAddArbitrator(pNode);
@@ -218,15 +218,14 @@ void *syncStart(const SSyncInfo *pInfo) {
     (*pNode->notifyRole)(pNode->ahandle, nodeRole);
   }
 
-  return pNode;
+  return pNode->rid;
 }
 
-void syncStop(void *param) {
-  SSyncNode *pNode = param;
+void syncStop(int64_t rid) {
   SSyncPeer *pPeer;
 
-  int ret = taosAcquireRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode);
-  if (ret < 0) return;
+  SSyncNode *pNode = taosAcquireRef(tsSyncRefId, rid);
+  if (pNode == NULL) return;
 
   sInfo("vgId:%d, cleanup sync", pNode->vgId);
 
@@ -245,16 +244,15 @@ void syncStop(void *param) {
 
   pthread_mutex_unlock(&(pNode->mutex));
 
-  taosReleaseRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode);
-  taosRemoveRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode);
+  taosReleaseRef(tsSyncRefId, rid);
+  taosRemoveRef(tsSyncRefId, rid);
 }
 
-int32_t syncReconfig(void *param, const SSyncCfg *pNewCfg) {
-  SSyncNode *pNode = param;
+int32_t syncReconfig(int64_t rid, const SSyncCfg *pNewCfg) {
   int        i, j;
 
-  int ret = taosAcquireRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode);
-  if (ret < 0) return TSDB_CODE_SYN_INVALID_CONFIG;
+  SSyncNode *pNode = taosAcquireRef(tsSyncRefId, rid);
+  if (pNode == NULL) return TSDB_CODE_SYN_INVALID_CONFIG;
 
   sInfo("vgId:%d, reconfig, role:%s replica:%d old:%d", pNode->vgId, syncRole[nodeRole], pNewCfg->replica,
         pNode->replica);
@@ -318,29 +316,25 @@ int32_t syncReconfig(void *param, const SSyncCfg *pNewCfg) {
         syncRole[nodeRole]);
   syncBroadcastStatus(pNode);
 
-  taosReleaseRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode);
+  taosReleaseRef(tsSyncRefId, rid);
 
   return 0;
 }
 
-int32_t syncForwardToPeer(void *param, void *data, void *mhandle, int qtype) {
-  SSyncNode *pNode = param;
-
-  int ret = taosAcquireRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode);
-  if (ret < 0) return 0; 
+int32_t syncForwardToPeer(int64_t rid, void *data, void *mhandle, int qtype) {
+  SSyncNode *pNode = taosAcquireRef(tsSyncRefId, rid);
+  if (pNode == NULL) return 0; 
 
   int32_t code = syncForwardToPeerImpl(pNode, data, mhandle, qtype);
 
-  taosReleaseRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode);
+  taosReleaseRef(tsSyncRefId, rid);
 
   return code;
 }
 
-void syncConfirmForward(void *param, uint64_t version, int32_t code) {
-  SSyncNode *pNode = param;
-
-  int ret = taosAcquireRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode);
-  if (ret < 0) return;
+void syncConfirmForward(int64_t rid, uint64_t version, int32_t code) {
+  SSyncNode *pNode = taosAcquireRef(tsSyncRefId, rid);
+  if (pNode == NULL) return;
 
   SSyncPeer *pPeer = pNode->pMaster;
   if (pPeer && pNode->quorum > 1) {
@@ -365,15 +359,14 @@ void syncConfirmForward(void *param, uint64_t version, int32_t code) {
     }
   }
 
-  taosReleaseRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode);
+  taosReleaseRef(tsSyncRefId, rid);
 }
 
-void syncRecover(void *param) {
-  SSyncNode *pNode = param;
+void syncRecover(int64_t rid) {
   SSyncPeer *pPeer;
 
-  int ret = taosAcquireRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode);
-  if (ret < 0) return;
+  SSyncNode *pNode = taosAcquireRef(tsSyncRefId, rid);
+  if (pNode == NULL) return;
 
   // to do: add a few lines to check if recover is OK
   // if take this node to unsync state, the whole system may not work
@@ -393,14 +386,12 @@ void syncRecover(void *param) {
 
   pthread_mutex_unlock(&(pNode->mutex));
 
-  taosReleaseRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode);
+  taosReleaseRef(tsSyncRefId, rid);
 }
 
-int syncGetNodesRole(void *param, SNodesRole *pNodesRole) {
-  SSyncNode *pNode = param;
-
-  int ret = taosAcquireRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode);
-  if (ret < 0) return -1;
+int syncGetNodesRole(int64_t rid, SNodesRole *pNodesRole) {
+  SSyncNode *pNode = taosAcquireRef(tsSyncRefId, rid);
+  if (pNode == NULL) return -1;
 
   pNodesRole->selfIndex = pNode->selfIndex;
   for (int i = 0; i < pNode->replica; ++i) {
@@ -408,7 +399,7 @@ int syncGetNodesRole(void *param, SNodesRole *pNodesRole) {
     pNodesRole->role[i] = pNode->peerInfo[i]->role;
   }
 
-  taosReleaseRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode);
+  taosReleaseRef(tsSyncRefId, rid);
 
   return 0;
 }
@@ -455,7 +446,7 @@ void syncAddPeerRef(SSyncPeer *pPeer) { atomic_add_fetch_8(&pPeer->refCount, 1);
 
 int syncDecPeerRef(SSyncPeer *pPeer) {
   if (atomic_sub_fetch_8(&pPeer->refCount, 1) == 0) {
-    taosReleaseRef(tsSyncRefId, pPeer->pSyncNode);
+    taosReleaseRef(tsSyncRefId, pPeer->pSyncNode->rid);
 
     sDebug("%s, resource is freed", pPeer->id);
     taosTFree(pPeer->watchFd);
@@ -512,7 +503,7 @@ static SSyncPeer *syncAddPeer(SSyncNode *pNode, const SNodeInfo *pInfo) {
     taosTmrReset(syncCheckPeerConnection, checkMs, pPeer, syncTmrCtrl, &pPeer->timer);
   }
 
-  taosAcquireRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode);  
+  taosAcquireRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode->rid);  
   return pPeer;
 }
 
@@ -1105,7 +1096,7 @@ static void syncProcessBrokenLink(void *param) {
   SSyncPeer *pPeer = param;
   SSyncNode *pNode = pPeer->pSyncNode;
 
-  if (taosAcquireRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode) < 0) return;
+  if (taosAcquireRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode->rid) < 0) return;
   pthread_mutex_lock(&(pNode->mutex));
 
   sDebug("%s, TCP link is broken(%s)", pPeer->id, strerror(errno));
@@ -1116,7 +1107,7 @@ static void syncProcessBrokenLink(void *param) {
   }
 
   pthread_mutex_unlock(&(pNode->mutex));
-  taosReleaseRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode);
+  taosReleaseRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode->rid);
 }
 
 static void syncSaveFwdInfo(SSyncNode *pNode, uint64_t version, void *mhandle) {
@@ -1184,10 +1175,9 @@ static void syncProcessFwdAck(SSyncNode *pNode, SFwdInfo *pFwdInfo, int32_t code
 }
 
 static void syncMonitorFwdInfos(void *param, void *tmrId) {
-  SSyncNode *pNode = param;
-
-  int ret = taosAcquireRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode);
-  if ( ret < 0) return;
+  int64_t rid = (int64_t) param;
+  SSyncNode *pNode = taosAcquireRef(tsSyncRefId, rid);
+  if (pNode == NULL) return;
 
   SSyncFwds *pSyncFwds = pNode->pSyncFwds;
 
@@ -1206,10 +1196,10 @@ static void syncMonitorFwdInfos(void *param, void *tmrId) {
       pthread_mutex_unlock(&(pNode->mutex));
     }
 
-    pNode->pFwdTimer = taosTmrStart(syncMonitorFwdInfos, 300, pNode, syncTmrCtrl);
+    pNode->pFwdTimer = taosTmrStart(syncMonitorFwdInfos, 300, (void *)pNode->rid, syncTmrCtrl);
   }
 
-  taosReleaseRef(tsSyncRefId, pNode);
+  taosReleaseRef(tsSyncRefId, rid);
 }
 
 static int32_t syncForwardToPeerImpl(SSyncNode *pNode, void *data, void *mhandle, int qtype) {
diff --git a/src/sync/test/syncServer.c b/src/sync/test/syncServer.c
index 0cf752da97848056a7e5e3892025e87c3aef4c5d..9dd3feb4614105c13ba6a2d1069931345167b472 100644
--- a/src/sync/test/syncServer.c
+++ b/src/sync/test/syncServer.c
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ int       dataFd = -1;
 void *    qhandle = NULL;
 int       walNum = 0;
 uint64_t  tversion = 0;
-void *    syncHandle;
+int64_t   syncHandle;
 int       role;
 int       nodeId;
 char      path[256];
diff --git a/src/vnode/inc/vnodeInt.h b/src/vnode/inc/vnodeInt.h
index 169334c6119a35f53fd0a69dd1f7cb6952fbb727..9a7722c57d1996ce7b0fc63b037a02dafe334394 100644
--- a/src/vnode/inc/vnodeInt.h
+++ b/src/vnode/inc/vnodeInt.h
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ typedef struct {
   void        *rqueue;
   void        *wal;
   void        *tsdb;
-  void        *sync;
+  int64_t      sync;
   void        *events;
   void        *cq;  // continuous query
   int32_t      cfgVersion;
diff --git a/src/vnode/src/vnodeMain.c b/src/vnode/src/vnodeMain.c
index e2069331168b57af64155b968453a3e4eb120056..ab1341a0dabcb2fb95c6993f4783688855bc8f70 100644
--- a/src/vnode/src/vnodeMain.c
+++ b/src/vnode/src/vnodeMain.c
@@ -44,12 +44,12 @@ static void     vnodeCtrlFlow(void *handle, int32_t mseconds);
 static int      vnodeNotifyFileSynced(void *ahandle, uint64_t fversion);
 
 #ifndef _SYNC
-tsync_h syncStart(const SSyncInfo *info) { return NULL; }
-int32_t syncForwardToPeer(tsync_h shandle, void *pHead, void *mhandle, int qtype) { return 0; }
-void    syncStop(tsync_h shandle) {}
-int32_t syncReconfig(tsync_h shandle, const SSyncCfg * cfg) { return 0; }
-int     syncGetNodesRole(tsync_h shandle, SNodesRole * cfg) { return 0; }
-void    syncConfirmForward(tsync_h shandle, uint64_t version, int32_t code) {}
+int64_t syncStart(const SSyncInfo *info) { return NULL; }
+int32_t syncForwardToPeer(int64_t rid, void *pHead, void *mhandle, int qtype) { return 0; }
+void    syncStop(int64_t rid) {}
+int32_t syncReconfig(int64_t rid, const SSyncCfg * cfg) { return 0; }
+int     syncGetNodesRole(int64_t rid, SNodesRole * cfg) { return 0; }
+void    syncConfirmForward(int64_t rid, uint64_t version, int32_t code) {}
 #endif
 
 char* vnodeStatus[] = {
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ int32_t vnodeOpen(int32_t vnode, char *rootDir) {
 #ifndef _SYNC
   pVnode->role = TAOS_SYNC_ROLE_MASTER;
 #else
-  if (pVnode->sync == NULL) {
+  if (pVnode->sync <= 0) {
     vError("vgId:%d, failed to open sync module, replica:%d reason:%s", pVnode->vgId, pVnode->syncCfg.replica,
            tstrerror(terrno));
     vnodeCleanUp(pVnode);
@@ -589,9 +589,9 @@ static void vnodeCleanUp(SVnodeObj *pVnode) {
   }
 
   // stop replication module
-  if (pVnode->sync) {
-    void *sync = pVnode->sync;
-    pVnode->sync = NULL;
+  if (pVnode->sync > 0) {
+    int64_t sync = pVnode->sync;
+    pVnode->sync = -1;
     syncStop(sync);
   }
 
diff --git a/src/wal/inc/walInt.h b/src/wal/inc/walInt.h
index 5273eb5b1c2c56d300243f8bbd724a39031aa164..d1e977225929d8e34b42fbe6aec53c3f41bb7273 100644
--- a/src/wal/inc/walInt.h
+++ b/src/wal/inc/walInt.h
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ extern int32_t wDebugFlag;
 typedef struct {
   uint64_t version;
   int64_t  fileId;
+  int64_t  rid;
   int32_t  vgId;
   int32_t  fd;
   int32_t  keep;
diff --git a/src/wal/src/walMgmt.c b/src/wal/src/walMgmt.c
index c8f0274174dc518ea36500d093023ec53c5fb75d..2c4349ed3a4fabd0793ae492c0bd791199eab5de 100644
--- a/src/wal/src/walMgmt.c
+++ b/src/wal/src/walMgmt.c
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@ void *walOpen(char *path, SWalCfg *pCfg) {
     return NULL;
   }
 
-  if (taosAddRef(tsWal.refId, pWal) != TSDB_CODE_SUCCESS) {
+   pWal->rid = taosAddRef(tsWal.refId, pWal);
+   if (pWal->rid < 0) {
     walFreeObj(pWal);
     return NULL;
   }
@@ -143,7 +144,7 @@ void walClose(void *handle) {
   }
 
   pthread_mutex_unlock(&pWal->mutex);
-  taosRemoveRef(tsWal.refId, pWal);
+  taosRemoveRef(tsWal.refId, pWal->rid);
 }
 
 static int32_t walInitObj(SWal *pWal) {
@@ -185,7 +186,7 @@ static void walUpdateSeq() {
 }
 
 static void walFsyncAll() {
-  SWal *pWal = taosIterateRef(tsWal.refId, NULL);
+  SWal *pWal = taosIterateRef(tsWal.refId, 0);
   while (pWal) {
     if (walNeedFsync(pWal)) {
       wTrace("vgId:%d, do fsync, level:%d seq:%d rseq:%d", pWal->vgId, pWal->level, pWal->fsyncSeq, tsWal.seq);
@@ -194,7 +195,7 @@ static void walFsyncAll() {
         wError("vgId:%d, file:%s, failed to fsync since %s", pWal->vgId, pWal->name, strerror(code));
       }
     }
-    pWal = taosIterateRef(tsWal.refId, pWal);
+    pWal = taosIterateRef(tsWal.refId, pWal->rid);
   }
 }