diff --git a/cmd.sh b/cmd.sh
index 7f01256..c938313 100755
--- a/cmd.sh
+++ b/cmd.sh
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ data=$(printf "${i} %.0s" {1..128})
 redis-cli hnsw.node.add test1 node${i-1} ${data}
 done
 
-redis-cli bgsave
+# redis-cli bgsave
 
 redis-cli hnsw.get test1
 redis-cli hnsw.node.get test1 node1
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ redis-cli hnsw.search test1 5 ${data}
 for i in {1..100}
 do
 redis-cli hnsw.node.del test1 node${i-1}
+sleep 0.1
 done
 
 redis-cli hnsw.del test1
diff --git a/src/hnsw/hnsw.rs b/src/hnsw/hnsw.rs
index 90e80f4..d47477d 100644
--- a/src/hnsw/hnsw.rs
+++ b/src/hnsw/hnsw.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use std::convert::From;
 use std::fmt;
 use std::hash::{Hash, Hasher};
 use std::rc::Rc;
-use std::sync::{Arc, RwLock};
+use std::sync::{Arc, RwLock, Weak};
 use std::thread;
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -84,12 +84,13 @@ where
 }
 
 type NodeRef<T> = Arc<RwLock<_Node<T>>>;
+type NodeRefWeak<T> = Weak<RwLock<_Node<T>>>;
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct _Node<T: Float> {
     pub name: String,
     pub data: Vec<T>,
-    pub neighbors: Vec<Vec<Node<T>>>,
+    pub neighbors: Vec<Vec<NodeWeak<T>>>,
 }
 
 impl<T> fmt::Debug for _Node<T>
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ where
                 .iter()
                 .map(|l| {
                     l.into_iter()
-                        .map(|n| n.read().name.to_owned())
+                        .map(|n| n.upgrade().read().name.to_owned())
                         .collect::<Vec<String>>()
                 })
                 .collect::<Vec<Vec<String>>>(),
@@ -127,7 +128,7 @@ impl<T: Float> _Node<T> {
         }
     }
 
-    fn add_neighbor(&mut self, level: usize, neighbor: Node<T>, capacity: Option<usize>) {
+    fn add_neighbor(&mut self, level: usize, neighbor: NodeWeak<T>, capacity: Option<usize>) {
         self.push_levels(level, capacity);
         let neighbors = &mut self.neighbors;
         if !neighbors[level].contains(&neighbor) {
@@ -135,7 +136,7 @@ impl<T: Float> _Node<T> {
         }
     }
 
-    fn rm_neighbor(&mut self, level: usize, neighbor: &Node<T>) {
+    fn rm_neighbor(&mut self, level: usize, neighbor: &NodeWeak<T>) {
         let neighbors = &mut self.neighbors;
         let index = neighbors[level]
             .iter()
@@ -143,12 +144,29 @@ impl<T: Float> _Node<T> {
             .unwrap();
         neighbors[level].remove(index);
     }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct NodeWeak<T: Float>(pub NodeRefWeak<T>);
+
+impl<T: Float> PartialEq for NodeWeak<T> {
+    fn eq(&self, other: &Self) -> bool {
+        Weak::ptr_eq(&self.0, &other.0)
+    }
+}
 
-    // fn clear_neighbors(&mut self, level: usize) {
-    //     let neighbors = &mut self.neighbors;
-    //     let cap = neighbors[level].capacity();
-    //     neighbors[level] = Vec::with_capacity(cap);
-    // }
+impl<T: Float> Eq for NodeWeak<T> {}
+
+impl<T: Float> Hash for NodeWeak<T> {
+    fn hash<H: Hasher>(&self, state: &mut H) {
+        self.upgrade().read().name.hash(state);
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T: Float> NodeWeak<T> {
+    pub fn upgrade(&self) -> Node<T> {
+        Node(self.0.upgrade().unwrap())
+    }
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
@@ -191,20 +209,19 @@ impl<T: Float> Node<T> {
         node.push_levels(level, capacity);
     }
 
-    fn add_neighbor(&self, level: usize, neighbor: Node<T>, capacity: Option<usize>) {
+    fn add_neighbor(&self, level: usize, neighbor: NodeWeak<T>, capacity: Option<usize>) {
         let node = &mut self.0.try_write().unwrap();
         node.add_neighbor(level, neighbor, capacity);
     }
 
-    fn rm_neighbor(&self, level: usize, neighbor: &Node<T>) {
+    fn rm_neighbor(&self, level: usize, neighbor: &NodeWeak<T>) {
         let node = &mut self.0.try_write().unwrap();
         node.rm_neighbor(level, neighbor);
     }
 
-    // fn clear_neighbors(&self, level: usize) {
-    //     let node = &mut self.0.try_write().unwrap();
-    //     node.clear_neighbors(level);
-    // }
+    pub fn downgrade(&self) -> NodeWeak<T> {
+        NodeWeak(Arc::downgrade(&self.0))
+    }
 }
 
 type SimPairRef<T, R> = Rc<RefCell<_SimPair<T, R>>>;
@@ -291,9 +308,9 @@ pub struct Index<T: Float, R: Float> {
     pub level_mult: f64,                        // level generation factor
     pub node_count: usize,                      // count of nodes
     pub max_layer: usize,                       // idx of top layer
-    pub layers: Vec<HashSet<Node<T>>>,          // distinct nodes in each layer
+    pub layers: Vec<HashSet<NodeWeak<T>>>,      // distinct nodes in each layer
     pub nodes: HashMap<String, Node<T>>,        // hashmap of nodes
-    pub enterpoint: Option<Node<T>>,            // enterpoint node
+    pub enterpoint: Option<NodeWeak<T>>,        // enterpoint node
     rng_: StdRng,                               // rng for level generation
 }
 
@@ -347,7 +364,7 @@ impl<T: Float, R: Float> fmt::Debug for Index<T, R> {
             self.node_count,
             self.max_layer,
             match &self.enterpoint {
-                Some(node) => node.read().name.clone(),
+                Some(node) => node.upgrade().read().name.clone(),
                 None => "null".to_owned(),
             },
         )
@@ -400,10 +417,10 @@ where
 
         if self.node_count == 0 {
             let node = Node::new(name, data, self.m_max_0);
-            self.enterpoint = Some(node.clone());
+            self.enterpoint = Some(node.downgrade());
 
             let mut layer = HashSet::new();
-            layer.insert(node.clone());
+            layer.insert(node.downgrade());
             self.layers.push(layer);
 
             self.nodes.insert(name.to_owned(), node);
@@ -432,7 +449,7 @@ where
         self.node_count -= 1;
 
         for lc in (0..(self.max_layer + 1)).rev() {
-            if self.layers[lc].remove(&node) {
+            if self.layers[lc].remove(&node.downgrade()) {
                 break;
             }
         }
@@ -455,7 +472,7 @@ where
 
         // update enterpoint if necessary
         match &self.enterpoint {
-            Some(ep) if node == *ep => {
+            Some(ep) if node == ep.upgrade() => {
                 let mut new_ep = None;
                 for lc in (0..(self.max_layer + 1)).rev() {
                     match self.layers[lc].iter().next() {
@@ -518,8 +535,8 @@ where
 
         let mut lc = l_max;
         while lc > l {
-            w = self.search_level(data, &ep, 1, lc);
-            ep = w.pop().unwrap().read().node.clone();
+            w = self.search_level(data, &ep.upgrade(), 1, lc);
+            ep = w.pop().unwrap().read().node.downgrade();
 
             if lc == 0 {
                 break;
@@ -529,7 +546,7 @@ where
 
         let mut updated = HashSet::new();
         for lc in (0..(min(l_max, l) + 1)).rev() {
-            w = self.search_level(data, &ep, self.ef_construction, lc);
+            w = self.search_level(data, &ep.upgrade(), self.ef_construction, lc);
             let mut neighbors = self.select_neighbors(query, &w, self.m, lc, true, true, None);
             self.connect_neighbors(query, &neighbors, lc);
 
@@ -551,10 +568,10 @@ where
                     for n in eneighbors {
                         let ensim = OrderedFloat::from((self.mfunc)(
                             &enr.data,
-                            &n.read().data,
+                            &n.upgrade().read().data,
                             self.data_dim,
                         ));
-                        let enpair = SimPair::new(ensim, n.to_owned());
+                        let enpair = SimPair::new(ensim, n.upgrade());
                         econn.push(enpair);
                     }
                 }
@@ -570,7 +587,7 @@ where
                 }
             }
 
-            ep = w.peek().unwrap().read().node.clone();
+            ep = w.peek().unwrap().read().node.downgrade();
         }
 
         // update nodes in redis
@@ -583,14 +600,14 @@ where
         // new enterpoint if we're in a higher layer
         if l > l_max {
             self.max_layer = l;
-            self.enterpoint = Some(query.to_owned());
+            self.enterpoint = Some(query.downgrade());
             while self.layers.len() < l + 1 {
                 self.layers.push(HashSet::new());
             }
         }
 
         // add node to layer set
-        self.layers[l].insert(query.to_owned());
+        self.layers[l].insert(query.downgrade());
 
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -641,6 +658,7 @@ where
             let cpr = cpair.read();
             let neighbors = &cpr.node.read().neighbors[level];
             for neighbor in neighbors {
+                let neighbor = neighbor.upgrade();
                 if !v.contains(&neighbor) {
                     v.insert(neighbor.clone());
 
@@ -699,8 +717,9 @@ where
                 let epair = ccopy.pop().unwrap();
 
                 for eneighbor in &epair.read().node.read().neighbors[lc] {
-                    if *eneighbor == *query
-                        || (ignored_node.is_some() && *eneighbor == *ignored_node.unwrap())
+                    let eneighbor = eneighbor.upgrade();
+                    if eneighbor == *query
+                        || (ignored_node.is_some() && eneighbor == *ignored_node.unwrap())
                     {
                         continue;
                     }
@@ -765,9 +784,9 @@ where
             let npair = neighbors.pop().unwrap();
             let npr = npair.read();
 
-            query.add_neighbor(level, npr.node.clone(), Some(self.m_max_0));
+            query.add_neighbor(level, npr.node.downgrade(), Some(self.m_max_0));
             npr.node
-                .add_neighbor(level, query.clone(), Some(self.m_max_0));
+                .add_neighbor(level, query.downgrade(), Some(self.m_max_0));
         }
     }
 
@@ -788,9 +807,9 @@ where
         while !newconn.is_empty() {
             let newpair = newconn.pop().unwrap();
             let npr = newpair.read();
-            node.add_neighbor(level, npr.node.clone(), Some(self.m_max_0));
+            node.add_neighbor(level, npr.node.downgrade(), Some(self.m_max_0));
             npr.node
-                .add_neighbor(level, node.clone(), Some(self.m_max_0));
+                .add_neighbor(level, node.downgrade(), Some(self.m_max_0));
             updated.insert(npr.node.clone());
             // if new neighbor exists in the old set then we remove it from
             // the set of neighbors to be removed
@@ -806,14 +825,14 @@ where
         while !rmconn.is_empty() {
             let rmpair = rmconn.pop().unwrap();
             let rmpr = rmpair.read();
-            node.rm_neighbor(level, &rmpr.node);
+            node.rm_neighbor(level, &rmpr.node.downgrade());
             // if node to be removed is the ignored node then pass
             match ignored_node {
                 Some(n) if rmpr.node == *n => {
                     continue;
                 }
                 _ => {
-                    rmpr.node.rm_neighbor(level, &node);
+                    rmpr.node.rm_neighbor(level, &node.downgrade());
                     updated.insert(rmpr.node.clone());
                 }
             }
@@ -828,6 +847,7 @@ where
         let mut updated = HashSet::new();
 
         for n in neighbors {
+            let n = n.upgrade();
             let nnewconn: BinaryHeap<SimPair<T, R>>;
             let mut nconn: BinaryHeap<SimPair<T, R>>;
             {
@@ -836,6 +856,7 @@ where
                 nconn = BinaryHeap::with_capacity(nneighbors.len());
 
                 for nn in nneighbors {
+                    let nn = nn.upgrade();
                     let nnsim =
                         OrderedFloat::from((self.mfunc)(&nr.data, &nn.read().data, self.data_dim));
                     let nnpair = SimPair::new(nnsim, nn.to_owned());
@@ -843,10 +864,10 @@ where
                 }
 
                 let m_max = if lc == 0 { self.m_max_0 } else { self.m_max };
-                nnewconn = self.select_neighbors(n, &nconn, m_max, lc, true, true, Some(node));
+                nnewconn = self.select_neighbors(&n, &nconn, m_max, lc, true, true, Some(node));
             }
             updated.insert(n.clone());
-            let up = self.update_node_connections(n, &nnewconn, &nconn, lc, Some(node));
+            let up = self.update_node_connections(&n, &nnewconn, &nconn, lc, Some(node));
             for u in up {
                 updated.insert(u);
             }
@@ -861,12 +882,12 @@ where
 
         let mut lc = l_max;
         while lc > 0 {
-            let w = self.search_level(query, &ep, 1, lc);
-            ep = w.peek().unwrap().read().node.clone();
+            let w = self.search_level(query, &ep.upgrade(), 1, lc);
+            ep = w.peek().unwrap().read().node.downgrade();
             lc -= 1;
         }
 
-        let mut w = self.search_level(query, &ep, ef, 0);
+        let mut w = self.search_level(query, &ep.upgrade(), ef, 0);
 
         let mut res = Vec::with_capacity(k);
         while res.len() < k && !w.is_empty() {
diff --git a/src/hnsw/hnsw_tests.rs b/src/hnsw/hnsw_tests.rs
index 163afbe..3e8807a 100644
--- a/src/hnsw/hnsw_tests.rs
+++ b/src/hnsw/hnsw_tests.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use crate::hnsw::hnsw::*;
 use crate::hnsw::metrics::euclidean;
 use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::{thread, time};
 
 #[test]
 fn hnsw_test() {
@@ -22,6 +23,18 @@ fn hnsw_test() {
         let data = vec![i as f32; 4];
         index.add_node(&name, &data, mock_fn).unwrap();
     }
+    // sleep for a brief period to make sure all threads are done
+    let ten_millis = time::Duration::from_millis(10);
+    thread::sleep(ten_millis);
+    for i in 0..100 {
+        let node_name = format!("node{}", i);
+        let node = index.nodes.get(&node_name).unwrap();
+        let sc = Arc::strong_count(&node.0);
+        if sc > 1 {
+            println!("{:?}", node);
+        }
+        assert_eq!(sc, 1);
+    }
     assert_eq!(index.node_count, 100);
     assert_ne!(index.enterpoint, None);
 
@@ -44,15 +57,22 @@ fn hnsw_test() {
         assert_eq!(index.node_count, 100 - i - 1);
         assert_eq!(index.nodes.get(&node_name).is_none(), true);
         for l in &index.layers {
-            assert_eq!(l.contains(&node), false);
+            assert_eq!(l.contains(&node.downgrade()), false);
         }
         for n in index.nodes.values() {
             for l in &n.read().neighbors {
                 for nn in l {
-                    assert_ne!(*nn, node);
+                    assert_ne!(nn.upgrade(), node);
                 }
             }
         }
-        assert_eq!(Arc::strong_count(&node.0), 1);
+        // sleep for a brief period to make sure all threads are done
+        let ten_millis = time::Duration::from_millis(10);
+        thread::sleep(ten_millis);
+        let sc = Arc::strong_count(&node.0);
+        if sc > 1 {
+            println!("Delete {:?}", node);
+        }
+        assert_eq!(sc, 1);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index eedf4ad..c5c76c5 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ fn make_index(ctx: &Context, ir: &IndexRedis) -> Result<Index<f32, f32>, RedisEr
                     Some(node) => node,
                     None => return Err(format!("Node: {} does not exist", node_name).into()),
                 };
-                node_layer.push(nn.clone());
+                node_layer.push(nn.downgrade());
             }
             target.write().neighbors.push(node_layer);
         }
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ fn make_index(ctx: &Context, ir: &IndexRedis) -> Result<Index<f32, f32>, RedisEr
                 Some(n) => n,
                 None => return Err(format!("Node: {} does not exist", node_name).into()),
             };
-            node_layer.insert(node.clone());
+            node_layer.insert(node.downgrade());
         }
         index.layers.push(node_layer);
     }
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ fn make_index(ctx: &Context, ir: &IndexRedis) -> Result<Index<f32, f32>, RedisEr
                 Some(n) => n,
                 None => return Err(format!("Node: {} does not exist", node_name).into()),
             };
-            Some(node.clone())
+            Some(node.downgrade())
         }
         None => None,
     };
@@ -292,6 +292,15 @@ fn delete_node(ctx: &Context, args: Vec<String>) -> RedisResult {
 
     let node_name = format!("{}.{}.{}", PREFIX, &args[1], &args[2]);
 
+    // TODO return error if node has more than 1 strong_count
+    let node = index.nodes.get(&node_name).unwrap();
+    if Arc::strong_count(&node.0) > 1 {
+        return Err(format!(
+            "{} is being accessed, unable to delete. Try again later",
+            &node_name
+        )
+        .into());
+    }
     match index.delete_node(&node_name, update_node) {
         Err(e) => return Err(e.error_string().into()),
         _ => (),
diff --git a/src/types.rs b/src/types.rs
index 778954d..5c41bc9 100644
--- a/src/types.rs
+++ b/src/types.rs
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ impl From<&Index<f32, f32>> for IndexRedis {
                 .iter()
                 .map(|l| {
                     l.into_iter()
-                        .map(|n| n.read().name.clone())
+                        .map(|n| n.upgrade().read().name.clone())
                         .collect::<Vec<String>>()
                 })
                 .collect(),
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ impl From<&Index<f32, f32>> for IndexRedis {
                 .map(|k| k.clone())
                 .collect::<Vec<String>>(),
             enterpoint: match &index.enterpoint {
-                Some(ep) => Some(ep.read().name.clone()),
+                Some(ep) => Some(ep.upgrade().read().name.clone()),
                 None => None,
             },
         }
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ impl From<&Node<f32>> for NodeRedis {
                 .into_iter()
                 .map(|l| {
                     l.into_iter()
-                        .map(|n| n.read().name.clone())
+                        .map(|n| n.upgrade().read().name.clone())
                         .collect::<Vec<String>>()
                 })
                 .collect(),