diff --git a/packages/client/lib/client/index.spec.ts b/packages/client/lib/client/index.spec.ts
index 442b10ef52..d27bcc2b78 100644
--- a/packages/client/lib/client/index.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/client/lib/client/index.spec.ts
@@ -844,4 +844,9 @@ describe('Client', () => {
         await client.disconnect();
         await client.connect();
     }, GLOBAL.SERVERS.OPEN);
+
+    testUtils.testWithClient('should be able to use ref and unref', client => {
+        client.unref();
+        client.ref();
+    }, GLOBAL.SERVERS.OPEN);
 });
diff --git a/packages/client/lib/client/index.ts b/packages/client/lib/client/index.ts
index 9664b3645b..2032c4fb71 100644
--- a/packages/client/lib/client/index.ts
+++ b/packages/client/lib/client/index.ts
@@ -682,6 +682,14 @@ export default class RedisClient<
         await this.#isolationPool.drain();
         await this.#isolationPool.clear();
     }
+
+    ref(): void {
+        this.#socket.ref();
+    }
+
+    unref(): void {
+        this.#socket.unref();
+    }
 }
 
 attachCommands({
diff --git a/packages/client/lib/client/socket.ts b/packages/client/lib/client/socket.ts
index 224eb3fa88..5fab5c5601 100644
--- a/packages/client/lib/client/socket.ts
+++ b/packages/client/lib/client/socket.ts
@@ -78,6 +78,8 @@ export default class RedisSocket extends EventEmitter {
         return this.#writableNeedDrain;
     }
 
+    #isSocketUnrefed = false;
+
     constructor(initiator: RedisSocketInitiator, options?: RedisSocketOptions) {
         super();
 
@@ -137,6 +139,10 @@ export default class RedisSocket extends EventEmitter {
                 socket.setTimeout(this.#options.connectTimeout, () => socket.destroy(new ConnectionTimeoutError()));
             }
 
+            if (this.#isSocketUnrefed) {
+                socket.unref();
+            }
+
             socket
                 .setNoDelay(this.#options.noDelay)
                 .once('error', reject)
@@ -233,4 +239,14 @@ export default class RedisSocket extends EventEmitter {
             this.#isCorked = false;
         });
     }
+
+    ref(): void {
+        this.#isSocketUnrefed = false;
+        this.#socket?.ref();
+    }
+
+    unref(): void {
+        this.#isSocketUnrefed = true;
+        this.#socket?.unref();
+    }
 }
diff --git a/packages/test-utils/lib/index.ts b/packages/test-utils/lib/index.ts
index ac7dad72b3..1e814c2974 100644
--- a/packages/test-utils/lib/index.ts
+++ b/packages/test-utils/lib/index.ts
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ export default class TestUtils {
         S extends RedisScripts
     >(
         title: string,
-        fn: (client: RedisClientType<M, F, S>) => Promise<unknown>,
+        fn: (client: RedisClientType<M, F, S>) => unknown,
         options: ClientTestOptions<M, F, S>
     ): void {
         let dockerPromise: ReturnType<typeof spawnRedisServer>;
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ export default class TestUtils {
         S extends RedisScripts
     >(
         title: string,
-        fn: (cluster: RedisClusterType<M, F, S>) => Promise<void>,
+        fn: (cluster: RedisClusterType<M, F, S>) => unknown,
         options: ClusterTestOptions<M, F, S>
     ): void {
         let dockersPromise: ReturnType<typeof spawnRedisCluster>;