diff --git a/src/config/config.go b/src/config/config.go
index 513b1a4..0253507 100644
--- a/src/config/config.go
+++ b/src/config/config.go
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ type RaftConfig struct {
 	// leader heartbeat interval(ms)
 	HeartbeatTimeout int `json:"heartbeat-timeout"`
 
+	// admit defeat count for hearbeat
+	AdmitDefeatHtCnt int `json:"admit-defeat-hearbeat-count"`
+
 	// election timeout(ms)
 	ElectionTimeout int `json:"election-timeout"`
 
@@ -76,6 +79,7 @@ func DefaultRaftConfig() *RaftConfig {
 	return &RaftConfig{
 		MetaDatadir:         ".",
 		HeartbeatTimeout:    1000,
+		AdmitDefeatHtCnt:    10,
 		ElectionTimeout:     3000,
 		PurgeBinlogInterval: 1000 * 60 * 5,
 		LeaderStartCommand:  "nop",
@@ -117,6 +121,9 @@ type MysqlConfig struct {
 	// ping mysql interval(ms)
 	PingTimeout int `json:"ping-timeout"`
 
+	// admit defeat count for ping mysql
+	AdmitDefeatPingCnt int `json:"admit-defeat-ping-count"`
+
 	// master system variables configure(separated by ;)
 	MasterSysVars string `json:"master-sysvars"`
 
@@ -135,16 +142,17 @@ type MysqlConfig struct {
 
 func DefaultMysqlConfig() *MysqlConfig {
 	return &MysqlConfig{
-		Admin:        "root",
-		Passwd:       "",
-		Host:         "localhost",
-		Port:         3306,
-		PingTimeout:  1000,
-		Basedir:      "/u01/mysql_20160606/",
-		DefaultsFile: "/etc/my3306.cnf",
-		ReplHost:     "127.0.0.1",
-		ReplUser:     "repl",
-		ReplPasswd:   "repl",
+		Admin:              "root",
+		Passwd:             "",
+		Host:               "localhost",
+		Port:               3306,
+		PingTimeout:        1000,
+		AdmitDefeatPingCnt: 2,
+		Basedir:            "/u01/mysql_20160606/",
+		DefaultsFile:       "/etc/my3306.cnf",
+		ReplHost:           "127.0.0.1",
+		ReplUser:           "repl",
+		ReplPasswd:         "repl",
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/mysql/mysql.go b/src/mysql/mysql.go
index 01d6e18..0c89613 100644
--- a/src/mysql/mysql.go
+++ b/src/mysql/mysql.go
@@ -39,10 +39,6 @@ const (
 	MysqlReadwrite Option = "READWRITE"
 )
 
-var (
-	downsLimits = 2
-)
-
 // PingEntry tuple.
 type PingEntry struct {
 	Relay_Master_Log_File string
@@ -95,6 +91,8 @@ func (m *Mysql) Ping() {
 	var pe *PingEntry
 	log := m.log
 
+	downsLimits := m.conf.AdmitDefeatPingCnt
+
 	if db, err = m.getDB(); err != nil {
 		log.Error("mysql[%v].ping.getdb.error[%v].downs:%v,downslimits:%v", m.getConnStr(), err, m.downs, downsLimits)
 		if m.downs > downsLimits {
diff --git a/src/raft/leader.go b/src/raft/leader.go
index c583b13..e8b57ce 100644
--- a/src/raft/leader.go
+++ b/src/raft/leader.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ type Leader struct {
 	processRequestVoteRequestHandler func(*model.RaftRPCRequest) *model.RaftRPCResponse
 
 	// leader send heartbeat request to other followers
-	sendHeartbeatHandler func(*int, chan *model.RaftRPCResponse)
+	sendHeartbeatHandler func(*bool, chan *model.RaftRPCResponse)
 
 	// leader process send heartbeat response
 	processHeartbeatResponseHandler func(*int, *model.RaftRPCResponse)
@@ -65,18 +65,23 @@ func (r *Leader) Loop() {
 	r.stateInit()
 	defer r.stateExit()
 
-	mysqlDowns := 0
+	mysqlDown := false
 	ackGranted := 1
 
 	lessHtAcks := 0
-	maxLessHtAcks := 10
+	maxLessHtAcks := r.Raft.conf.AdmitDefeatHtCnt
 
 	// send heartbeat
 	respChan := make(chan *model.RaftRPCResponse, r.getMembers())
-	r.sendHeartbeatHandler(&mysqlDowns, respChan)
+	r.sendHeartbeatHandler(&mysqlDown, respChan)
 	r.resetHeartbeatTimeout()
 
 	for r.getState() == LEADER {
+		if mysqlDown {
+			r.WARNING("feel.mysql.down.degrade.to.follower")
+			r.degradeToFollower()
+		}
+
 		select {
 		case <-r.fired:
 			r.WARNING("state.machine.loop.got.fired")
@@ -97,7 +102,7 @@ func (r *Leader) Loop() {
 
 			ackGranted = 1
 			respChan = make(chan *model.RaftRPCResponse, r.getMembers())
-			r.sendHeartbeatHandler(&mysqlDowns, respChan)
+			r.sendHeartbeatHandler(&mysqlDown, respChan)
 			r.resetHeartbeatTimeout()
 		case rsp := <-respChan:
 			r.processHeartbeatResponseHandler(&ackGranted, rsp)
@@ -248,10 +253,10 @@ func (r *Leader) processRequestVoteRequest(req *model.RaftRPCRequest) *model.Raf
 
 // leaderSendHeartbeatHandler
 // broadcast hearbeat requests to other peers of the cluster
-func (r *Leader) sendHeartbeat(mysqlDowns *int, c chan *model.RaftRPCResponse) {
+func (r *Leader) sendHeartbeat(mysqlDown *bool, c chan *model.RaftRPCResponse) {
 	// check MySQL down
 	if r.mysql.GetState() == mysql.MysqlDead {
-		r.WARNING("feel.mysql.down")
+		*mysqlDown = true
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -495,7 +500,7 @@ func (r *Leader) setProcessRequestVoteRequestHandler(f func(*model.RaftRPCReques
 	r.processRequestVoteRequestHandler = f
 }
 
-func (r *Leader) setSendHeartbeatHandler(f func(*int, chan *model.RaftRPCResponse)) {
+func (r *Leader) setSendHeartbeatHandler(f func(*bool, chan *model.RaftRPCResponse)) {
 	r.sendHeartbeatHandler = f
 }
 
diff --git a/src/raft/mock.go b/src/raft/mock.go
index b9c6640..0ee0c59 100644
--- a/src/raft/mock.go
+++ b/src/raft/mock.go
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ func (r *Raft) mockLeaderProcessRequestVoteRequest(req *model.RaftRPCRequest) *m
 
 // mock leader send heartbeat request
 // nop here, so other followers will start a new leader election
-func (r *Raft) mockLeaderSendHeartbeat(mysqlDownLimits *int, c chan *model.RaftRPCResponse) {
+func (r *Raft) mockLeaderSendHeartbeat(mysqlDown *bool, c chan *model.RaftRPCResponse) {
 	r.DEBUG("mock.send.nop.heartbeat.request")
 }