diff --git a/apps/emqx_rule_engine/src/emqx_rule_engine.appup.src b/apps/emqx_rule_engine/src/emqx_rule_engine.appup.src
index b74843a2f..4b392eb01 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_rule_engine/src/emqx_rule_engine.appup.src
+++ b/apps/emqx_rule_engine/src/emqx_rule_engine.appup.src
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 {VSN,
   [{"4.4.11",[
     {load_module,emqx_rule_registry,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+    {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_sup,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+    {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+    {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_started,[]}},
     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]}
    ]},
    {"4.4.10",
@@ -11,6 +14,8 @@
      {add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt_sup},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_actions,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_sup,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_started,[]}},
      {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,start_jwt_sup,[]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_utils,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_monitor,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -19,7 +24,6 @@
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_metrics,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_funcs,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
-     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_registry,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]}]},
    {"4.4.9",
     [{add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt},
@@ -27,6 +31,8 @@
      {add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt_sup},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_actions,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_sup,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_started,[]}},
      {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,start_jwt_sup,[]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_utils,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_monitor,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -35,7 +41,6 @@
      {load_module,emqx_rule_funcs,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_sqltester,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_registry,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
-     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_metrics,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]}]},
    {"4.4.8",
@@ -44,6 +49,8 @@
      {add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt_sup},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_actions,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_sup,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_started,[]}},
      {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,start_jwt_sup,[]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_utils,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_monitor,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -51,7 +58,6 @@
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_app,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_funcs,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_sqltester,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
-     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_registry,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_runtime,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_metrics,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -61,6 +67,8 @@
      {add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt_worker},
      {add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt_sup},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_sup,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_started,[]}},
      {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,start_jwt_sup,[]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_monitor,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_events,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -68,7 +76,6 @@
      {load_module,emqx_rule_funcs,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_metrics,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_sqltester,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
-     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_utils,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_runtime,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -79,6 +86,8 @@
      {add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt_worker},
      {add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt_sup},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_sup,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_started,[]}},
      {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,start_jwt_sup,[]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_monitor,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_events,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -91,13 +100,14 @@
      {load_module,emqx_rule_utils,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_runtime,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_actions,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
-     {load_module,emqx_rule_validator,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
-     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]}]},
+     {load_module,emqx_rule_validator,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]}]},
    {"4.4.4",
     [{add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt},
      {add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt_worker},
      {add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt_sup},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_sup,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_started,[]}},
      {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,start_jwt_sup,[]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_monitor,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_events,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -105,7 +115,6 @@
      {load_module,emqx_rule_funcs,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_metrics,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_sqltester,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
-     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_validator,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_utils,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_registry,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -117,6 +126,8 @@
      {add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt_worker},
      {add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt_sup},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_sup,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_started,[]}},
      {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,start_jwt_sup,[]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_monitor,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_app,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -131,13 +142,14 @@
      {add_module,emqx_rule_date},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_maps,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_registry,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
-     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
-     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]}]},
+     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]}]},
    {"4.4.2",
     [{add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt},
      {add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt_worker},
      {add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt_sup},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_sup,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_started,[]}},
      {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,start_jwt_sup,[]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_monitor,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_app,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -153,13 +165,14 @@
      {load_module,emqx_rule_funcs,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {add_module,emqx_rule_date},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_events,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
-     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]}]},
    {"4.4.1",
     [{add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt},
      {add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt_worker},
      {add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt_sup},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_sup,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_started,[]}},
      {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,start_jwt_sup,[]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_monitor,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_app,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -171,7 +184,6 @@
      {load_module,emqx_rule_runtime,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_metrics,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_events,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
-     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_utils,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_funcs,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -182,6 +194,8 @@
      {add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt_worker},
      {add_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt_sup},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_sup,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_started,[]}},
      {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,start_jwt_sup,[]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_monitor,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_app,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -197,15 +211,18 @@
      {update,emqx_rule_metrics,{advanced,["4.4.0"]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_events,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
-     {load_module,emqx_rule_runtime,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
-     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]}]},
+     {load_module,emqx_rule_runtime,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]}]},
    {<<".*">>,[]}],
   [{"4.4.11",[
     {load_module,emqx_rule_registry,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+    {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_stopped,[]}},
+    {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_sup,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+    {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_api,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
     {load_module,emqx_rule_engine,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]}
    ]},
    {"4.4.10",
     [{load_module,emqx_rule_actions,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_stopped,[]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_utils,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_monitor,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_events,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -223,6 +240,7 @@
      {delete_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt}]},
    {"4.4.9",
     [{load_module,emqx_rule_actions,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_stopped,[]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_utils,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_monitor,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_events,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -241,6 +259,7 @@
      {delete_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt}]},
    {"4.4.8",
     [{load_module,emqx_rule_actions,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_stopped,[]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_utils,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_monitor,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_events,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -260,6 +279,7 @@
      {delete_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt}]},
    {<<"4\\.4\\.[6-7]">>,
     [{load_module,emqx_rule_monitor,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_stopped,[]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_events,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_app,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_sup,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -279,6 +299,7 @@
      {delete_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt}]},
    {"4.4.5",
     [{load_module,emqx_rule_monitor,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_stopped,[]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_events,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_app,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_sup,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -299,6 +320,7 @@
      {delete_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt}]},
    {"4.4.4",
     [{load_module,emqx_rule_monitor,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_stopped,[]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_events,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_app,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_sup,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -319,6 +341,7 @@
      {delete_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt}]},
    {"4.4.3",
     [{load_module,emqx_rule_monitor,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_stopped,[]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_app,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_sup,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_metrics,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -341,6 +364,7 @@
      {delete_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt}]},
    {"4.4.2",
     [{load_module,emqx_rule_monitor,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_stopped,[]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_app,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_sup,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_validator,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -364,6 +388,7 @@
      {delete_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt}]},
    {"4.4.1",
     [{load_module,emqx_rule_monitor,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_stopped,[]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_app,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_sup,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_validator,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -387,6 +412,7 @@
      {delete_module,emqx_rule_engine_jwt}]},
    {"4.4.0",
     [{load_module,emqx_rule_monitor,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {apply,{emqx_rule_engine_sup,ensure_api_delegator_stopped,[]}},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_app,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_engine_sup,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_rule_validator,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},