diff --git a/.hgtags b/.hgtags
index 1d77148..07a3bed 100644
--- a/.hgtags
+++ b/.hgtags
@@ -20,3 +20,7 @@ ceca448e7c62c23388a0c866c905c7080633a875 4.0.0
 cf6fc9696904fd1735523a70a4f59b5ad6a3f2d5 4.0.0
 cf6fc9696904fd1735523a70a4f59b5ad6a3f2d5 4.0.0
 91b7272415af8fdb5b81c98cc6c374558d2ab805 4.0.0
+91b7272415af8fdb5b81c98cc6c374558d2ab805 4.0.0
+84ef9a50bccaf7fcd1aef1b3a5d0cd6336fdac4c 4.0.0
+84ef9a50bccaf7fcd1aef1b3a5d0cd6336fdac4c 4.0.0
+c6df866bf6ca8f9385c91dd74b65fea34bab58ca 4.0.0
diff --git a/src/remote/codec.cpp b/src/remote/codec.cpp
index cffe3fe..67bb701 100644
--- a/src/remote/codec.cpp
+++ b/src/remote/codec.cpp
@@ -1138,6 +1138,9 @@ namespace epics {
         // clean resources
         internalClose(true);
 
+        // this is important to avoid cyclic refs (memory leak)
+        clearSendQueue();
+
         _sendQueue.wakeup();
 
         // post close
diff --git a/src/remote/codec.h b/src/remote/codec.h
index 3c36f54..9bfa24f 100644
--- a/src/remote/codec.h
+++ b/src/remote/codec.h
@@ -168,6 +168,11 @@ namespace epics {
         }
       }
 
+      size_t size() {
+          epics::pvData::Lock lock(_queueMutex);
+          return _queue.size();
+      }
+
     private:
 
       std::deque<T> _queue;
diff --git a/testApp/remote/channelAccessIFTest.cpp b/testApp/remote/channelAccessIFTest.cpp
index 740449e..7f90f0a 100755
--- a/testApp/remote/channelAccessIFTest.cpp
+++ b/testApp/remote/channelAccessIFTest.cpp
@@ -2119,6 +2119,12 @@ void ChannelAccessIFTest::test_stressPutAndGetLargeArray() {
     return;
   }
 
+  bool s = putReq->syncGet(getTimeoutSec());
+  if (!s) {
+    testFail("%s: sync get failed", CURRENT_FUNCTION);
+    return;
+  }
+
   PVDoubleArray::shared_pointer value = putReq->getPVStructure()->getSubField<PVDoubleArray>("value");
   if (!value.get()) {
     testFail("%s: getting double array value field failed ", CURRENT_FUNCTION);
@@ -2297,9 +2303,7 @@ void ChannelAccessIFTest::test_stressMonitorAndProcess() {
       return;
     } 
 
-    while(monitorReq->getMonitorCounter() < i) {
-      monitorReq->waitUntilMonitor(getTimeoutSec());
-    }        
+    monitorReq->waitUntilMonitor(i, getTimeoutSec());
 
     int counter = monitorReq->getMonitorCounter();
 
diff --git a/testApp/remote/syncTestRequesters.h b/testApp/remote/syncTestRequesters.h
index 8a4ae56..68b1e6d 100755
--- a/testApp/remote/syncTestRequesters.h
+++ b/testApp/remote/syncTestRequesters.h
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class SyncBaseRequester {
 
     SyncBaseRequester(bool debug = false):
       m_debug(debug),
-      m_event(new Event()),
+      m_event(),
       m_connectedStatus(false), 
       m_getStatus(false),
       m_putStatus(false) {}
@@ -126,25 +126,17 @@ class SyncBaseRequester {
     }
 
     void resetEvent() {
-      Lock lock(m_eventMutex);
-      m_event.reset(new Event());
+        m_event.tryWait();
     }
     
     void signalEvent() {
-      Lock lock(m_eventMutex);
-      m_event->signal();
+      m_event.signal();
     }
 
 
     bool waitUntilEvent(double timeOut)
     {
-      std::tr1::shared_ptr<epics::pvData::Event> event;
-      {
-         Lock lock(m_eventMutex);
-         event = m_event;
-      }
-      
-      bool signaled = event->wait(timeOut);
+      bool signaled = m_event.wait(timeOut);
       if (!signaled)
       {
         if (m_debug)
@@ -158,7 +150,7 @@ class SyncBaseRequester {
 
   private:
 
-    std::tr1::shared_ptr<epics::pvData::Event> m_event;
+    epics::pvData::Event m_event;
     bool m_connectedStatus;
     bool m_getStatus;
     bool m_putStatus;
@@ -167,7 +159,6 @@ class SyncBaseRequester {
     Mutex m_getStatusMutex;
     Mutex m_putStatusMutex;
     Mutex m_processStatusMutex;
-    Mutex m_eventMutex;
 };
 
 
@@ -1136,6 +1127,31 @@ class SyncMonitorRequesterImpl: public MonitorRequester, public SyncBaseRequeste
       return m_monitorStatus;
     }
 
+    bool waitUntilMonitor(int expectedCount, double timeOut)
+    {
+
+      resetEvent();
+
+      {
+        Lock lock(m_pointerMutex);
+        m_monitorStatus = false;
+        if (m_monitorCounter >= expectedCount)
+            return true;
+      }
+
+
+      bool signaled = waitUntilEvent(timeOut);
+      if (!signaled) {
+
+        if (m_debug)
+          std::cerr << getRequesterName() << ".waitUntilMonitor:" << " timeout occurred" << endl;
+
+        return false;
+      }
+
+      Lock lock(m_pointerMutex);
+      return m_monitorStatus;
+    }
 
     virtual string getRequesterName()
     {