diff --git a/runtime/src/accounts_index.rs b/runtime/src/accounts_index.rs
index 3a29216b4abb70..a2bd30d35d4bda 100644
--- a/runtime/src/accounts_index.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/accounts_index.rs
@@ -270,14 +270,14 @@ impl<T: IndexValue> AccountMapEntryInner<T> {
         }
     }
     pub fn ref_count(&self) -> RefCount {
-        self.ref_count.load(Ordering::Relaxed)
+        self.ref_count.load(Ordering::Acquire)
     }
 
     pub fn add_un_ref(&self, add: bool) {
         if add {
-            self.ref_count.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+            self.ref_count.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Release);
         } else {
-            self.ref_count.fetch_sub(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+            self.ref_count.fetch_sub(1, Ordering::Release);
         }
         self.set_dirty(true);
     }