diff --git a/src/Simplex/FileTransfer/Agent.hs b/src/Simplex/FileTransfer/Agent.hs
index bda8e1e9e..fc484f7e5 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/FileTransfer/Agent.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/FileTransfer/Agent.hs
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ closeXFTPAgent XFTPAgent {xftpRcvWorkers, xftpSndWorkers} = do
 
 xftpReceiveFile' :: AgentMonad m => AgentClient -> UserId -> ValidFileDescription 'FRecipient -> Maybe CryptoFileArgs -> m RcvFileId
 xftpReceiveFile' c userId (ValidFileDescription fd@FileDescription {chunks}) cfArgs = do
-  g <- asks idsDrg
+  g <- asks random
   prefixPath <- getPrefixPath "rcv.xftp"
   createDirectory prefixPath
   let relPrefixPath = takeFileName prefixPath
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ notify c entId cmd = atomically $ writeTBQueue (subQ c) ("", entId, APC (sAEntit
 
 xftpSendFile' :: AgentMonad m => AgentClient -> UserId -> CryptoFile -> Int -> m SndFileId
 xftpSendFile' c userId file numRecipients = do
-  g <- asks idsDrg
+  g <- asks random
   prefixPath <- getPrefixPath "snd.xftp"
   createDirectory prefixPath
   let relPrefixPath = takeFileName prefixPath
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent.hs b/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent.hs
index 136bae557..04236a78d 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent.hs
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ newConnAsync c userId corrId enableNtfs cMode subMode = do
 
 newConnNoQueues :: AgentMonad m => AgentClient -> UserId -> ConnId -> Bool -> SConnectionMode c -> m ConnId
 newConnNoQueues c userId connId enableNtfs cMode = do
-  g <- asks idsDrg
+  g <- asks random
   connAgentVersion <- asks $ maxVersion . smpAgentVRange . config
   -- connection mode is determined by the accepting agent
   let cData = ConnData {userId, connId, connAgentVersion, enableNtfs, duplexHandshake = Nothing, lastExternalSndId = 0, deleted = False, ratchetSyncState = RSOk}
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ joinConnAsync c userId corrId enableNtfs cReqUri@(CRInvitationUri ConnReqUriData
     aVRange <- asks $ smpAgentVRange . config
     case crAgentVRange `compatibleVersion` aVRange of
       Just (Compatible connAgentVersion) -> do
-        g <- asks idsDrg
+        g <- asks random
         let duplexHS = connAgentVersion /= 1
             cData = ConnData {userId, connId = "", connAgentVersion, enableNtfs, duplexHandshake = Just duplexHS, lastExternalSndId = 0, deleted = False, ratchetSyncState = RSOk}
         connId <- withStore c $ \db -> createNewConn db g cData SCMInvitation
@@ -619,7 +619,7 @@ joinConnSrv :: AgentMonad m => AgentClient -> UserId -> ConnId -> Bool -> Connec
 joinConnSrv c userId connId enableNtfs inv@CRInvitationUri {} cInfo subMode srv =
   withInvLock c (strEncode inv) "joinConnSrv" $ do
     (aVersion, cData@ConnData {connAgentVersion}, q, rc, e2eSndParams) <- startJoinInvitation userId connId enableNtfs inv
-    g <- asks idsDrg
+    g <- asks random
     connId' <- withStore c $ \db -> runExceptT $ do
       connId' <- ExceptT $ createSndConn db g cData q
       liftIO $ createRatchet db connId' rc
@@ -2061,7 +2061,7 @@ processSMPTransmission c@AgentClient {smpClients, subQ} (tSess@(_, srv, _), v, s
                       where
                         processConf connInfo senderConf duplexHS = do
                           let newConfirmation = NewConfirmation {connId, senderConf, ratchetState = rc'}
-                          g <- asks idsDrg
+                          g <- asks random
                           confId <- withStore c $ \db -> do
                             setHandshakeVersion db connId agentVersion duplexHS
                             createConfirmation db g newConfirmation
@@ -2238,7 +2238,7 @@ processSMPTransmission c@AgentClient {smpClients, subQ} (tSess@(_, srv, _), v, s
             logServer "<--" c srv rId "MSG <KEY>"
             case conn' of
               ContactConnection {} -> do
-                g <- asks idsDrg
+                g <- asks random
                 let newInv = NewInvitation {contactConnId = connId, connReq, recipientConnInfo = cInfo}
                 invId <- withStore c $ \db -> createInvitation db g newInv
                 let srvs = L.map qServer $ crSmpQueues crData
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Env/SQLite.hs b/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Env/SQLite.hs
index 3a818f250..c4cb19a59 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Env/SQLite.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Env/SQLite.hs
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import Control.Monad.IO.Unlift
 import Control.Monad.Reader
 import Crypto.Random
 import Data.Int (Int64)
+import Data.IORef (IORef, newIORef)
 import Data.List.NonEmpty (NonEmpty)
 import Data.Map (Map)
 import Data.Time.Clock (NominalDiffTime, nominalDay)
@@ -178,7 +179,7 @@ defaultAgentConfig =
 data Env = Env
   { config :: AgentConfig,
     store :: SQLiteStore,
-    idsDrg :: TVar ChaChaDRG,
+    random :: IORef ChaChaDRG,
     clientCounter :: TVar Int,
     randomServer :: TVar StdGen,
     ntfSupervisor :: NtfSupervisor,
@@ -187,12 +188,12 @@ data Env = Env
 
 newSMPAgentEnv :: AgentConfig -> SQLiteStore -> IO Env
 newSMPAgentEnv config@AgentConfig {initialClientId} store = do
-  idsDrg <- newTVarIO =<< liftIO drgNew
+  random <- newIORef =<< drgNew
   clientCounter <- newTVarIO initialClientId
   randomServer <- newTVarIO =<< liftIO newStdGen
   ntfSupervisor <- atomically . newNtfSubSupervisor $ tbqSize config
   xftpAgent <- atomically newXFTPAgent
-  pure Env {config, store, idsDrg, clientCounter, randomServer, ntfSupervisor, xftpAgent}
+  pure Env {config, store, random, clientCounter, randomServer, ntfSupervisor, xftpAgent}
 
 createAgentStore :: FilePath -> String -> MigrationConfirmation -> IO (Either MigrationError SQLiteStore)
 createAgentStore dbFilePath dbKey = createSQLiteStore dbFilePath dbKey Migrations.app
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Store/SQLite.hs b/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Store/SQLite.hs
index a08b758bd..f06db8a3e 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Store/SQLite.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Store/SQLite.hs
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ where
 import Control.Monad
 import Control.Monad.Except
 import Control.Monad.IO.Class
-import Crypto.Random (ChaChaDRG, randomBytesGenerate)
+import Crypto.Random (ChaChaDRG)
 import qualified Data.Aeson.TH as J
 import qualified Data.Attoparsec.ByteString.Char8 as A
 import Data.Bifunctor (second)
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ deleteUsersWithoutConns db = do
   pure userIds
 
 createConn_ ::
-  TVar ChaChaDRG ->
+  IORef ChaChaDRG ->
   ConnData ->
   (ByteString -> IO ()) ->
   IO (Either StoreError ByteString)
@@ -518,7 +518,7 @@ createConn_ gVar cData create = checkConstraint SEConnDuplicate $ case cData of
   ConnData {connId = ""} -> createWithRandomId gVar create
   ConnData {connId} -> create connId $> Right connId
 
-createNewConn :: DB.Connection -> TVar ChaChaDRG -> ConnData -> SConnectionMode c -> IO (Either StoreError ConnId)
+createNewConn :: DB.Connection -> IORef ChaChaDRG -> ConnData -> SConnectionMode c -> IO (Either StoreError ConnId)
 createNewConn db gVar cData@ConnData {userId, connAgentVersion, enableNtfs, duplexHandshake} cMode =
   createConn_ gVar cData $ \connId -> do
     DB.execute db "INSERT INTO connections (user_id, conn_id, conn_mode, smp_agent_version, enable_ntfs, duplex_handshake) VALUES (?,?,?,?,?,?)" (userId, connId, cMode, connAgentVersion, enableNtfs, duplexHandshake)
@@ -543,14 +543,14 @@ updateNewConnSnd db connId sq =
     updateConn :: IO (Either StoreError Int64)
     updateConn = Right <$> addConnSndQueue_ db connId sq
 
-createRcvConn :: DB.Connection -> TVar ChaChaDRG -> ConnData -> RcvQueue -> SConnectionMode c -> IO (Either StoreError ConnId)
+createRcvConn :: DB.Connection -> IORef ChaChaDRG -> ConnData -> RcvQueue -> SConnectionMode c -> IO (Either StoreError ConnId)
 createRcvConn db gVar cData@ConnData {userId, connAgentVersion, enableNtfs, duplexHandshake} q@RcvQueue {server} cMode =
   createConn_ gVar cData $ \connId -> do
     serverKeyHash_ <- createServer_ db server
     DB.execute db "INSERT INTO connections (user_id, conn_id, conn_mode, smp_agent_version, enable_ntfs, duplex_handshake) VALUES (?,?,?,?,?,?)" (userId, connId, cMode, connAgentVersion, enableNtfs, duplexHandshake)
     void $ insertRcvQueue_ db connId q serverKeyHash_
 
-createSndConn :: DB.Connection -> TVar ChaChaDRG -> ConnData -> SndQueue -> IO (Either StoreError ConnId)
+createSndConn :: DB.Connection -> IORef ChaChaDRG -> ConnData -> SndQueue -> IO (Either StoreError ConnId)
 createSndConn db gVar cData@ConnData {userId, connAgentVersion, enableNtfs, duplexHandshake} q@SndQueue {server} =
   -- check confirmed snd queue doesn't already exist, to prevent it being deleted by REPLACE in insertSndQueue_
   ifM (liftIO $ checkConfirmedSndQueueExists_ db q) (pure $ Left SESndQueueExists) $
@@ -769,7 +769,7 @@ smpConfirmation (senderKey, e2ePubKey, connInfo, smpReplyQueues_, smpClientVersi
       smpClientVersion = fromMaybe 1 smpClientVersion_
     }
 
-createConfirmation :: DB.Connection -> TVar ChaChaDRG -> NewConfirmation -> IO (Either StoreError ConfirmationId)
+createConfirmation :: DB.Connection -> IORef ChaChaDRG -> NewConfirmation -> IO (Either StoreError ConfirmationId)
 createConfirmation db gVar NewConfirmation {connId, senderConf = SMPConfirmation {senderKey, e2ePubKey, connInfo, smpReplyQueues, smpClientVersion}, ratchetState} =
   createWithRandomId gVar $ \confirmationId ->
     DB.execute
@@ -847,7 +847,7 @@ setHandshakeVersion :: DB.Connection -> ConnId -> Version -> Bool -> IO ()
 setHandshakeVersion db connId aVersion duplexHS =
   DB.execute db "UPDATE connections SET smp_agent_version = ?, duplex_handshake = ? WHERE conn_id = ?" (aVersion, duplexHS, connId)
 
-createInvitation :: DB.Connection -> TVar ChaChaDRG -> NewInvitation -> IO (Either StoreError InvitationId)
+createInvitation :: DB.Connection -> IORef ChaChaDRG -> NewInvitation -> IO (Either StoreError InvitationId)
 createInvitation db gVar NewInvitation {contactConnId, connReq, recipientConnInfo} =
   createWithRandomId gVar $ \invitationId ->
     DB.execute
@@ -2074,7 +2074,7 @@ updateHashSnd_ dbConn connId SndMsgData {..} =
     ]
 
 -- create record with a random ID
-createWithRandomId :: TVar ChaChaDRG -> (ByteString -> IO ()) -> IO (Either StoreError ByteString)
+createWithRandomId :: IORef ChaChaDRG -> (ByteString -> IO ()) -> IO (Either StoreError ByteString)
 createWithRandomId gVar create = tryCreate 3
   where
     tryCreate :: Int -> IO (Either StoreError ByteString)
@@ -2087,8 +2087,8 @@ createWithRandomId gVar create = tryCreate 3
           | SQL.sqlError e == SQL.ErrorConstraint -> tryCreate (n - 1)
           | otherwise -> pure . Left . SEInternal $ bshow e
 
-randomId :: TVar ChaChaDRG -> Int -> IO ByteString
-randomId gVar n = U.encode <$> (atomically . stateTVar gVar $ randomBytesGenerate n)
+randomId :: IORef ChaChaDRG -> Int -> IO ByteString
+randomId gVar n = U.encode <$> C.pseudoRandomBytes' n gVar
 
 ntfSubAndSMPAction :: NtfSubAction -> (Maybe NtfSubNTFAction, Maybe NtfSubSMPAction)
 ntfSubAndSMPAction (NtfSubNTFAction action) = (Just action, Nothing)
@@ -2109,7 +2109,7 @@ getXFTPServerId_ db ProtocolServer {host, port, keyHash} = do
   firstRow fromOnly SEXFTPServerNotFound $
     DB.query db "SELECT xftp_server_id FROM xftp_servers WHERE xftp_host = ? AND xftp_port = ? AND xftp_key_hash = ?" (host, port, keyHash)
 
-createRcvFile :: DB.Connection -> TVar ChaChaDRG -> UserId -> FileDescription 'FRecipient -> FilePath -> FilePath -> CryptoFile -> IO (Either StoreError RcvFileId)
+createRcvFile :: DB.Connection -> IORef ChaChaDRG -> UserId -> FileDescription 'FRecipient -> FilePath -> FilePath -> CryptoFile -> IO (Either StoreError RcvFileId)
 createRcvFile db gVar userId fd@FileDescription {chunks} prefixPath tmpPath (CryptoFile savePath cfArgs) = runExceptT $ do
   (rcvFileEntityId, rcvFileId) <- ExceptT $ insertRcvFile fd
   liftIO $
@@ -2364,7 +2364,7 @@ getRcvFilesExpired db ttl = do
     |]
     (Only cutoffTs)
 
-createSndFile :: DB.Connection -> TVar ChaChaDRG -> UserId -> CryptoFile -> Int -> FilePath -> C.SbKey -> C.CbNonce -> IO (Either StoreError SndFileId)
+createSndFile :: DB.Connection -> IORef ChaChaDRG -> UserId -> CryptoFile -> Int -> FilePath -> C.SbKey -> C.CbNonce -> IO (Either StoreError SndFileId)
 createSndFile db gVar userId (CryptoFile path cfArgs) numRecipients prefixPath key nonce =
   createWithRandomId gVar $ \sndFileEntityId ->
     DB.execute
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Messaging/Crypto.hs b/src/Simplex/Messaging/Crypto.hs
index cfc8156cf..da4ede7d9 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Messaging/Crypto.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Messaging/Crypto.hs
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ module Simplex.Messaging.Crypto
 
     -- * pseudo-random bytes
     pseudoRandomBytes,
+    pseudoRandomBytes',
 
     -- * digests
     sha256Hash,
@@ -191,8 +192,10 @@ import Data.ByteString.Char8 (ByteString)
 import qualified Data.ByteString.Char8 as B
 import Data.ByteString.Lazy (fromStrict, toStrict)
 import Data.Constraint (Dict (..))
+import Data.IORef (IORef, atomicModifyIORef')
 import Data.Kind (Constraint, Type)
 import Data.String
+import Data.Tuple (swap)
 import Data.Type.Equality
 import Data.Typeable (Proxy (Proxy), Typeable)
 import Data.Word (Word32)
@@ -1144,6 +1147,9 @@ pseudoRandomCbNonce gVar = CryptoBoxNonce <$> pseudoRandomBytes 24 gVar
 pseudoRandomBytes :: Int -> TVar ChaChaDRG -> STM ByteString
 pseudoRandomBytes n gVar = stateTVar gVar $ randomBytesGenerate n
 
+pseudoRandomBytes' :: Int -> IORef ChaChaDRG -> IO ByteString
+pseudoRandomBytes' n gVar = atomicModifyIORef' gVar $ swap . randomBytesGenerate n
+
 instance Encoding CbNonce where
   smpEncode = unCbNonce
   smpP = CryptoBoxNonce <$> A.take 24
diff --git a/tests/AgentTests/SQLiteTests.hs b/tests/AgentTests/SQLiteTests.hs
index cf6e8373b..b96574587 100644
--- a/tests/AgentTests/SQLiteTests.hs
+++ b/tests/AgentTests/SQLiteTests.hs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import Control.Exception (SomeException)
 import Control.Monad (replicateM_)
 import Crypto.Random (drgNew)
 import Data.ByteString.Char8 (ByteString)
+import Data.IORef (newIORef)
 import Data.List (isInfixOf)
 import qualified Data.Text as T
 import Data.Text.Encoding (encodeUtf8)
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ storeTests = do
 testConcurrentWrites :: SpecWith (SQLiteStore, SQLiteStore)
 testConcurrentWrites =
   it "should complete multiple concurrent write transactions w/t sqlite busy errors" $ \(s1, s2) -> do
-    g <- newTVarIO =<< drgNew
+    g <- newIORef =<< drgNew
     _ <- withTransaction s1 $ \db ->
       createRcvConn db g cData1 rcvQueue1 SCMInvitation
     let ConnData {connId} = cData1
@@ -206,7 +207,7 @@ sndQueue1 =
 testCreateRcvConn :: SpecWith SQLiteStore
 testCreateRcvConn =
   it "should create RcvConnection and add SndQueue" . withStoreTransaction $ \db -> do
-    g <- newTVarIO =<< drgNew
+    g <- newIORef =<< drgNew
     createRcvConn db g cData1 rcvQueue1 SCMInvitation
       `shouldReturn` Right "conn1"
     getConn db "conn1"
@@ -219,7 +220,7 @@ testCreateRcvConn =
 testCreateRcvConnRandomId :: SpecWith SQLiteStore
 testCreateRcvConnRandomId =
   it "should create RcvConnection and add SndQueue with random ID" . withStoreTransaction $ \db -> do
-    g <- newTVarIO =<< drgNew
+    g <- newIORef =<< drgNew
     Right connId <- createRcvConn db g cData1 {connId = ""} rcvQueue1 SCMInvitation
     let rq' = (rcvQueue1 :: RcvQueue) {connId}
         sq' = (sndQueue1 :: SndQueue) {connId}
@@ -233,7 +234,7 @@ testCreateRcvConnRandomId =
 testCreateRcvConnDuplicate :: SpecWith SQLiteStore
 testCreateRcvConnDuplicate =
   it "should throw error on attempt to create duplicate RcvConnection" . withStoreTransaction $ \db -> do
-    g <- newTVarIO =<< drgNew
+    g <- newIORef =<< drgNew
     _ <- createRcvConn db g cData1 rcvQueue1 SCMInvitation
     createRcvConn db g cData1 rcvQueue1 SCMInvitation
       `shouldReturn` Left SEConnDuplicate
@@ -241,7 +242,7 @@ testCreateRcvConnDuplicate =
 testCreateSndConn :: SpecWith SQLiteStore
 testCreateSndConn =
   it "should create SndConnection and add RcvQueue" . withStoreTransaction $ \db -> do
-    g <- newTVarIO =<< drgNew
+    g <- newIORef =<< drgNew
     createSndConn db g cData1 sndQueue1
       `shouldReturn` Right "conn1"
     getConn db "conn1"
@@ -254,7 +255,7 @@ testCreateSndConn =
 testCreateSndConnRandomID :: SpecWith SQLiteStore
 testCreateSndConnRandomID =
   it "should create SndConnection and add RcvQueue with random ID" . withStoreTransaction $ \db -> do
-    g <- newTVarIO =<< drgNew
+    g <- newIORef =<< drgNew
     Right connId <- createSndConn db g cData1 {connId = ""} sndQueue1
     let rq' = (rcvQueue1 :: RcvQueue) {connId}
         sq' = (sndQueue1 :: SndQueue) {connId}
@@ -268,7 +269,7 @@ testCreateSndConnRandomID =
 testCreateSndConnDuplicate :: SpecWith SQLiteStore
 testCreateSndConnDuplicate =
   it "should throw error on attempt to create duplicate SndConnection" . withStoreTransaction $ \db -> do
-    g <- newTVarIO =<< drgNew
+    g <- newIORef =<< drgNew
     _ <- createSndConn db g cData1 sndQueue1
     createSndConn db g cData1 sndQueue1
       `shouldReturn` Left SEConnDuplicate
@@ -278,7 +279,7 @@ testGetRcvConn =
   it "should get connection using rcv queue id and server" . withStoreTransaction $ \db -> do
     let smpServer = SMPServer "smp.simplex.im" "5223" testKeyHash
     let recipientId = "1234"
-    g <- newTVarIO =<< drgNew
+    g <- newIORef =<< drgNew
     _ <- createRcvConn db g cData1 rcvQueue1 SCMInvitation
     getRcvConn db smpServer recipientId
       `shouldReturn` Right (rcvQueue1, SomeConn SCRcv (RcvConnection cData1 rcvQueue1))
@@ -286,7 +287,7 @@ testGetRcvConn =
 testDeleteRcvConn :: SpecWith SQLiteStore
 testDeleteRcvConn =
   it "should create RcvConnection and delete it" . withStoreTransaction $ \db -> do
-    g <- newTVarIO =<< drgNew
+    g <- newIORef =<< drgNew
     _ <- createRcvConn db g cData1 rcvQueue1 SCMInvitation
     getConn db "conn1"
       `shouldReturn` Right (SomeConn SCRcv (RcvConnection cData1 rcvQueue1))
@@ -298,7 +299,7 @@ testDeleteRcvConn =
 testDeleteSndConn :: SpecWith SQLiteStore
 testDeleteSndConn =
   it "should create SndConnection and delete it" . withStoreTransaction $ \db -> do
-    g <- newTVarIO =<< drgNew
+    g <- newIORef =<< drgNew
     _ <- createSndConn db g cData1 sndQueue1
     getConn db "conn1"
       `shouldReturn` Right (SomeConn SCSnd (SndConnection cData1 sndQueue1))
@@ -310,7 +311,7 @@ testDeleteSndConn =
 testDeleteDuplexConn :: SpecWith SQLiteStore
 testDeleteDuplexConn =
   it "should create DuplexConnection and delete it" . withStoreTransaction $ \db -> do
-    g <- newTVarIO =<< drgNew
+    g <- newIORef =<< drgNew
     _ <- createRcvConn db g cData1 rcvQueue1 SCMInvitation
     _ <- upgradeRcvConnToDuplex db "conn1" sndQueue1
     getConn db "conn1"
@@ -323,7 +324,7 @@ testDeleteDuplexConn =
 testUpgradeRcvConnToDuplex :: SpecWith SQLiteStore
 testUpgradeRcvConnToDuplex =
   it "should throw error on attempt to add SndQueue to SndConnection or DuplexConnection" . withStoreTransaction $ \db -> do
-    g <- newTVarIO =<< drgNew
+    g <- newIORef =<< drgNew
     _ <- createSndConn db g cData1 sndQueue1
     let anotherSndQueue =
           SndQueue
@@ -351,7 +352,7 @@ testUpgradeRcvConnToDuplex =
 testUpgradeSndConnToDuplex :: SpecWith SQLiteStore
 testUpgradeSndConnToDuplex =
   it "should throw error on attempt to add RcvQueue to RcvConnection or DuplexConnection" . withStoreTransaction $ \db -> do
-    g <- newTVarIO =<< drgNew
+    g <- newIORef =<< drgNew
     _ <- createRcvConn db g cData1 rcvQueue1 SCMInvitation
     let anotherRcvQueue =
           RcvQueue
@@ -382,7 +383,7 @@ testUpgradeSndConnToDuplex =
 testSetRcvQueueStatus :: SpecWith SQLiteStore
 testSetRcvQueueStatus =
   it "should update status of RcvQueue" . withStoreTransaction $ \db -> do
-    g <- newTVarIO =<< drgNew
+    g <- newIORef =<< drgNew
     _ <- createRcvConn db g cData1 rcvQueue1 SCMInvitation
     getConn db "conn1"
       `shouldReturn` Right (SomeConn SCRcv (RcvConnection cData1 rcvQueue1))
@@ -394,7 +395,7 @@ testSetRcvQueueStatus =
 testSetSndQueueStatus :: SpecWith SQLiteStore
 testSetSndQueueStatus =
   it "should update status of SndQueue" . withStoreTransaction $ \db -> do
-    g <- newTVarIO =<< drgNew
+    g <- newIORef =<< drgNew
     _ <- createSndConn db g cData1 sndQueue1
     getConn db "conn1"
       `shouldReturn` Right (SomeConn SCSnd (SndConnection cData1 sndQueue1))
@@ -406,7 +407,7 @@ testSetSndQueueStatus =
 testSetQueueStatusDuplex :: SpecWith SQLiteStore
 testSetQueueStatusDuplex =
   it "should update statuses of RcvQueue and SndQueue in DuplexConnection" . withStoreTransaction $ \db -> do
-    g <- newTVarIO =<< drgNew
+    g <- newIORef =<< drgNew
     _ <- createRcvConn db g cData1 rcvQueue1 SCMInvitation
     _ <- upgradeRcvConnToDuplex db "conn1" sndQueue1
     getConn db "conn1"
@@ -458,7 +459,7 @@ testCreateRcvMsg_ db expectedPrevSndId expectedPrevHash connId rq rcvMsgData@Rcv
 testCreateRcvMsg :: SpecWith SQLiteStore
 testCreateRcvMsg =
   it "should reserve internal ids and create a RcvMsg" $ \st -> do
-    g <- newTVarIO =<< drgNew
+    g <- newIORef =<< drgNew
     let ConnData {connId} = cData1
     _ <- withTransaction st $ \db -> do
       createRcvConn db g cData1 rcvQueue1 SCMInvitation
@@ -489,7 +490,7 @@ testCreateSndMsg_ db expectedPrevHash connId sndMsgData@SndMsgData {..} = do
 testCreateSndMsg :: SpecWith SQLiteStore
 testCreateSndMsg =
   it "should create a SndMsg and return InternalId and PrevSndMsgHash" $ \st -> do
-    g <- newTVarIO =<< drgNew
+    g <- newIORef =<< drgNew
     let ConnData {connId} = cData1
     _ <- withTransaction st $ \db -> do
       createSndConn db g cData1 sndQueue1
@@ -502,7 +503,7 @@ testCreateRcvAndSndMsgs =
   it "should create multiple RcvMsg and SndMsg, correctly ordering internal Ids and returning previous state" $ \st -> do
     let ConnData {connId} = cData1
     _ <- withTransaction st $ \db -> do
-      g <- newTVarIO =<< drgNew
+      g <- newIORef =<< drgNew
       createRcvConn db g cData1 rcvQueue1 SCMInvitation
     withTransaction st $ \db -> do
       _ <- upgradeRcvConnToDuplex db "conn1" sndQueue1