diff --git a/src/cluster/DotNext.Net.Cluster/Net/Cluster/Consensus/Raft/MemoryBasedStateMachine.cs b/src/cluster/DotNext.Net.Cluster/Net/Cluster/Consensus/Raft/MemoryBasedStateMachine.cs
index 9e027e236..32c0d1639 100644
--- a/src/cluster/DotNext.Net.Cluster/Net/Cluster/Consensus/Raft/MemoryBasedStateMachine.cs
+++ b/src/cluster/DotNext.Net.Cluster/Net/Cluster/Consensus/Raft/MemoryBasedStateMachine.cs
@@ -679,7 +679,7 @@ long ComputeUpperBoundIndex(long count)
     protected abstract ValueTask ApplyAsync(LogEntry entry);
 
     private ValueTask ApplyCoreAsync(LogEntry entry)
-        => entry.IsEmpty ? new() : ApplyAsync(entry); // skip empty log entry
+        => entry.IsEmpty ? ValueTask.CompletedTask : ApplyAsync(entry); // skip empty log entry
 
     [AsyncMethodBuilder(typeof(PoolingAsyncValueTaskMethodBuilder))]
     private async ValueTask ApplyAsync(int sessionId, long startIndex, CancellationToken token)