1. {links, L1} = process_info(whereis(riak_core_ring_events), links). 2. exit(whereis(riak_core_ring_events), kill). 3. {links, L2} = process_info(whereis(riak_core_ring_events), links). length(L1) /= length(L2). After step 2, riak_core_node_watcher's link is not in the L2 list. workaround: exit(whereis(riak_core_node_watcher), kill), which will restart the node watcher, which will in turn re-link to riak_core_ring_events.