diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 30ebd493b..668ca54c8 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ pub use self::raft::{vote_resp_msg_type, Raft, SoftState, StateRole, INVALID_ID,
 pub use self::raft_log::{RaftLog, NO_LIMIT};
 pub use self::raw_node::{is_empty_snap, Peer, RawNode, Ready, SnapshotStatus};
 pub use self::read_only::{ReadOnlyOption, ReadState};
-pub use self::status::Status;
+pub use self::status::{Status, StatusRef};
 pub use self::storage::{RaftState, Storage};
 pub use raft_proto::eraftpb;
 use slog::{Drain, Logger};
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ pub mod prelude {
 
     pub use crate::progress::Progress;
 
-    pub use crate::status::Status;
+    pub use crate::status::{Status, StatusRef};
 
     pub use crate::read_only::{ReadOnlyOption, ReadState};
 }
diff --git a/src/raft.rs b/src/raft.rs
index dac0c7974..8f70d946b 100644
--- a/src/raft.rs
+++ b/src/raft.rs
@@ -681,9 +681,7 @@ impl<T: Storage> Raft<T> {
         self.set_prs(prs);
     }
 
-    /// Broadcast heartbeats to all the followers.
-    ///
-    /// If it's not leader, nothing will happen.
+    /// Broadcasts heartbeats to all the followers if it's leader.
     pub fn ping(&mut self) {
         if self.state == StateRole::Leader {
             self.bcast_heartbeat();
diff --git a/src/raw_node.rs b/src/raw_node.rs
index e2f7a4c4f..28c2b0d97 100644
--- a/src/raw_node.rs
+++ b/src/raw_node.rs
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ use crate::eraftpb::{
 };
 use crate::errors::{Error, Result};
 use crate::read_only::ReadState;
-use crate::{Raft, SoftState, Status, Storage, INVALID_ID};
+use crate::{Raft, SoftState, Status, StatusRef, Storage, INVALID_ID};
 use slog::Logger;
 
 /// Represents a Peer node in the cluster.
@@ -456,6 +456,13 @@ impl<T: Storage> RawNode<T> {
         Status::new(&self.raft)
     }
 
+    /// Returns the current status of the given group.
+    ///
+    /// It's borrows the internal progress set instead of copying.
+    pub fn status_ref(&self) -> StatusRef {
+        StatusRef::new(&self.raft)
+    }
+
     /// ReportUnreachable reports the given node is not reachable for the last send.
     pub fn report_unreachable(&mut self, id: u64) {
         let mut m = Message::default();
diff --git a/src/status.rs b/src/status.rs
index 776810b52..64091c517 100644
--- a/src/status.rs
+++ b/src/status.rs
@@ -62,3 +62,35 @@ impl<'a> Status<'a> {
         s
     }
 }
+
+/// Represents the current status of the raft
+#[derive(Default)]
+pub struct StatusRef<'a> {
+    /// The ID of the current node.
+    pub id: u64,
+    /// The hardstate of the raft, representing voted state.
+    pub hs: HardState,
+    /// The softstate of the raft, representing proposed state.
+    pub ss: SoftState,
+    /// The index of the last entry to have been applied.
+    pub applied: u64,
+    /// The progress towards catching up and applying logs.
+    pub progress: Option<&'a ProgressSet>,
+}
+
+impl<'a> StatusRef<'a> {
+    /// Gets the current raft status.
+    pub fn new<T: Storage>(raft: &'a Raft<T>) -> StatusRef<'a> {
+        let mut s = StatusRef {
+            id: raft.id,
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        s.hs = raft.hard_state();
+        s.ss = raft.soft_state();
+        s.applied = raft.raft_log.get_applied();
+        if s.ss.raft_state == StateRole::Leader {
+            s.progress = Some(raft.prs());
+        }
+        s
+    }
+}