diff --git a/packages/react/src/ReactForwardRef.js b/packages/react/src/ReactForwardRef.js
index 4f891d609f..f11ce4deba 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/ReactForwardRef.js
+++ b/packages/react/src/ReactForwardRef.js
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@
 
 import {REACT_FORWARD_REF_TYPE, REACT_MEMO_TYPE} from 'shared/ReactSymbols';
 
+export function isForwardRef(type: mixed): boolean %checks {
+  return typeof type === 'object' && type !== null && type.$$typeof === REACT_FORWARD_REF_TYPE;
+}
+
 export function forwardRef<Props, ElementType: React$ElementType>(
   render: (
     props: Props,
diff --git a/packages/react/src/ReactMemo.js b/packages/react/src/ReactMemo.js
index 8f2c0f5382..fcc3450d22 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/ReactMemo.js
+++ b/packages/react/src/ReactMemo.js
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@
  * @noflow
  */
 
-import {REACT_MEMO_TYPE} from 'shared/ReactSymbols';
+import {REACT_MEMO_TYPE, REACT_FORWARD_REF_TYPE} from 'shared/ReactSymbols';
+import shallowEqual from 'shared/shallowEqual';
 
 export function memo<Props>(
   type: React$ElementType,
-  compare?: (oldProps: Props, newProps: Props) => boolean,
+  compare?: (oldProps: Props, newProps: Props, oldRef: mixed, newRef: mixed) => boolean,
 ) {
   if (__DEV__) {
     if (type == null) {
@@ -22,10 +23,22 @@ export function memo<Props>(
       );
     }
   }
+
+  // Create custom compare function that includes ref for forwardRef components
+  const isForwardRefComponent = typeof type === 'object' && type !== null && type.$$typeof === REACT_FORWARD_REF_TYPE;
+  let finalCompare = compare;
+  
+  if (isForwardRefComponent && compare === undefined) {
+    // Default compare for forwardRef: shallow equal props + strict equal ref
+    finalCompare = function compareWithRef(oldProps, newProps, oldRef, newRef) {
+      return shallowEqual(oldProps, newProps) && oldRef === newRef;
+    };
+  }
+
   const elementType = {
     $$typeof: REACT_MEMO_TYPE,
     type,
-    compare: compare === undefined ? null : compare,
+    compare: finalCompare === undefined ? null : finalCompare,
   };
   if (__DEV__) {
     let ownName;