diff --git a/packages/reactivity/__tests__/ref.spec.ts b/packages/reactivity/__tests__/ref.spec.ts
index f6fc7f23..e0929e53 100644
--- a/packages/reactivity/__tests__/ref.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/reactivity/__tests__/ref.spec.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import {
   isReactive
 } from '../src/index'
 import { computed } from '@vue/runtime-dom'
-import { shallowRef, unref, customRef } from '../src/ref'
+import { shallowRef, unref, customRef, triggerRef } from '../src/ref'
 
 describe('reactivity/ref', () => {
   it('should hold a value', () => {
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ describe('reactivity/ref', () => {
     expect(dummy).toBe(1) // should not trigger yet
 
     // force trigger
-    sref.value = sref.value
+    triggerRef(sref)
     expect(dummy).toBe(2)
   })
 
diff --git a/packages/reactivity/src/index.ts b/packages/reactivity/src/index.ts
index ea0a9592..0ac9e5f3 100644
--- a/packages/reactivity/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/reactivity/src/index.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ export {
   toRef,
   toRefs,
   customRef,
+  triggerRef,
   Ref,
   UnwrapRef
 } from './ref'
diff --git a/packages/reactivity/src/ref.ts b/packages/reactivity/src/ref.ts
index 59badad4..22d9c233 100644
--- a/packages/reactivity/src/ref.ts
+++ b/packages/reactivity/src/ref.ts
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ function createRef(rawValue: unknown, shallow = false) {
       return value
     },
     set value(newVal) {
-      if (shallow || hasChanged(toRaw(newVal), rawValue)) {
+      if (hasChanged(toRaw(newVal), rawValue)) {
         rawValue = newVal
         value = shallow ? newVal : convert(newVal)
         trigger(
@@ -70,6 +70,15 @@ function createRef(rawValue: unknown, shallow = false) {
   return r
 }
 
+export function triggerRef(ref: Ref) {
+  trigger(
+    ref,
+    TriggerOpTypes.SET,
+    'value',
+    __DEV__ ? { newValue: ref.value } : void 0
+  )
+}
+
 export function unref<T>(ref: T): T extends Ref<infer V> ? V : T {
   return isRef(ref) ? (ref.value as any) : ref
 }
diff --git a/packages/runtime-core/src/index.ts b/packages/runtime-core/src/index.ts
index 316e1c7d..3bf99a71 100644
--- a/packages/runtime-core/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/runtime-core/src/index.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ export {
   isReadonly,
   // advanced
   customRef,
+  triggerRef,
   shallowRef,
   shallowReactive,
   shallowReadonly,