diff --git a/TestON/tests/HAstopNodes/HAstopNodes.params b/TestON/tests/HAstopNodes/HAstopNodes.params
index 1296300..134f5f2 100644
--- a/TestON/tests/HAstopNodes/HAstopNodes.params
+++ b/TestON/tests/HAstopNodes/HAstopNodes.params
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
     <apps></apps>
     <ONOS_Configuration>
         <org.onosproject.net.intent.impl.compiler.IntentConfigurableRegistrator>
-            <useFlowObjectives>false</useFlowObjectives>
+            <useFlowObjectives>true</useFlowObjectives>
         </org.onosproject.net.intent.impl.compiler.IntentConfigurableRegistrator>
     </ONOS_Configuration>
     <ENV>
diff --git a/TestON/tests/HAstopNodes/HAstopNodes.py b/TestON/tests/HAstopNodes/HAstopNodes.py
index a09a3fc..6a594b2 100644
--- a/TestON/tests/HAstopNodes/HAstopNodes.py
+++ b/TestON/tests/HAstopNodes/HAstopNodes.py
@@ -95,8 +95,8 @@
         ONOS7Port = main.params[ 'CTRL' ][ 'port7' ]
 
         try:
-            from tests.HAsanity.dependencies.Counters import Counters
-            main.Counters = Counters()
+            from tests.HAsanity.dependencies.HA import HA
+            main.HA = HA()
         except Exception as e:
             main.log.exception( e )
             main.cleanup()
@@ -276,38 +276,12 @@
                 port=main.params[ 'MNtcpdump' ][ 'port' ] )
 
         main.step( "Checking ONOS nodes" )
-        nodesOutput = []
-        nodeResults = main.TRUE
-        threads = []
-        for i in main.activeNodes:
-            t = main.Thread( target=main.CLIs[i].nodes,
-                             name="nodes-" + str( i ),
-                             args=[ ] )
-            threads.append( t )
-            t.start()
+        nodeResults = utilities.retry( main.HA.nodesCheck,
+                                       False,
+                                       args=[main.activeNodes],
+                                       attempts=5 )
 
-        for t in threads:
-            t.join()
-            nodesOutput.append( t.result )
-        ips = [ main.nodes[node].ip_address for node in main.activeNodes ]
-        ips.sort()
-        for i in nodesOutput:
-            try:
-                current = json.loads( i )
-                activeIps = []
-                currentResult = main.FALSE
-                for node in current:
-                    if node['state'] == 'READY':
-                        activeIps.append( node['ip'] )
-                activeIps.sort()
-                if ips == activeIps:
-                    currentResult = main.TRUE
-            except ( ValueError, TypeError ):
-                main.log.error( "Error parsing nodes output" )
-                main.log.warn( repr( i ) )
-                currentResult = main.FALSE
-            nodeResults = nodeResults and currentResult
-        utilities.assert_equals( expect=main.TRUE, actual=nodeResults,
+        utilities.assert_equals( expect=True, actual=nodeResults,
                                  onpass="Nodes check successful",
                                  onfail="Nodes check NOT successful" )
 
@@ -973,6 +947,7 @@
                                 "functionality and check the state of " +\
                                 "the intent"
 
+        onosCli = main.CLIs[ main.activeNodes[0] ]
         main.step( "Check Intent state" )
         installedCheck = False
         loopCount = 0
@@ -1008,7 +983,6 @@
                                         "INSTALLED state" )
 
         main.step( "Ping across added host intents" )
-        onosCli = main.CLIs[ main.activeNodes[0] ]
         PingResult = main.TRUE
         for i in range( 8, 18 ):
             ping = main.Mininet1.pingHost( src="h" + str( i ),
@@ -1205,8 +1179,7 @@
                 main.log.exception( "Error parsing pending map" )
                 main.log.error( repr( pendingMap ) )
         # Print flowrules
-        node = main.activeNodes[0]
-        main.log.debug( main.CLIs[node].flows( jsonFormat=False ) )
+        main.log.debug( onosCli.flows( jsonFormat=False ) )
         main.step( "Wait a minute then ping again" )
         # the wait is above
         PingResult = main.TRUE
@@ -2153,8 +2126,9 @@
         for i in range( 28 ):
             main.log.info( "Checking flow table on s" + str( i + 1 ) )
             tmpFlows = main.Mininet1.getFlowTable( "s" + str( i + 1 ), version="1.3", debug=False )
-            FlowTables = FlowTables and main.Mininet1.flowTableComp( flows[i], tmpFlows )
-            if FlowTables == main.FALSE:
+            curSwitch = main.Mininet1.flowTableComp( flows[i], tmpFlows )
+            FlowTables = FlowTables and curSwitch
+            if curSwitch == main.FALSE:
                 main.log.warn( "Differences in flow table for switch: s{}".format( i + 1 ) )
         utilities.assert_equals(
             expect=main.TRUE,
@@ -2633,45 +2607,19 @@
 
         # FIXME: move this to an ONOS state case
         main.step( "Checking ONOS nodes" )
-        nodesOutput = []
-        nodeResults = main.TRUE
-        threads = []
-        for i in main.activeNodes:
-            t = main.Thread( target=main.CLIs[i].nodes,
-                             name="nodes-" + str( i ),
-                             args=[ ] )
-            threads.append( t )
-            t.start()
+        nodeResults = utilities.retry( main.HA.nodesCheck,
+                                       False,
+                                       args=[main.activeNodes],
+                                       attempts=5 )
 
-        for t in threads:
-            t.join()
-            nodesOutput.append( t.result )
-        ips = [ main.nodes[node].ip_address for node in main.activeNodes ]
-        ips.sort()
-        for i in nodesOutput:
-            try:
-                current = json.loads( i )
-                activeIps = []
-                currentResult = main.FALSE
-                for node in current:
-                    if node['state'] == 'READY':
-                        activeIps.append( node['ip'] )
-                activeIps.sort()
-                if ips == activeIps:
-                    currentResult = main.TRUE
-            except ( ValueError, TypeError ):
-                main.log.error( "Error parsing nodes output" )
-                main.log.warn( repr( i ) )
-                currentResult = main.FALSE
-            nodeResults = nodeResults and currentResult
-        utilities.assert_equals( expect=main.TRUE, actual=nodeResults,
+        utilities.assert_equals( expect=True, actual=nodeResults,
                                  onpass="Nodes check successful",
                                  onfail="Nodes check NOT successful" )
         if not nodeResults:
-            for cli in main.CLIs:
+            for i in main.activeNodes:
                 main.log.debug( "{} components not ACTIVE: \n{}".format(
-                    cli.name,
-                    cli.sendline( "scr:list | grep -v ACTIVE" ) ) )
+                    main.CLIs[i].name,
+                    main.CLIs[i].sendline( "scr:list | grep -v ACTIVE" ) ) )
 
     def CASE9( self, main ):
         """
@@ -2991,26 +2939,8 @@
 
         main.step( "Check that each node shows the same leader and candidates" )
         failMessage = "Nodes have different leaderboards"
-        def consistentLeaderboards( nodes ):
-            TOPIC = 'org.onosproject.election'
-            # FIXME: use threads
-            #FIXME: should we retry outside the function?
-            for n in range( 5 ):  # Retry in case election is still happening
-                leaderList = []
-                # Get all leaderboards
-                for cli in nodes:
-                    leaderList.append( cli.specificLeaderCandidate( TOPIC ) )
-                # Compare leaderboards
-                result = all( i == leaderList[0] for i in leaderList ) and\
-                         leaderList is not None
-                main.log.debug( leaderList )
-                main.log.warn( result )
-                if result:
-                    return ( result, leaderList )
-                time.sleep(5)  #TODO: paramerterize
-            main.log.error( "Inconsistent leaderboards:" + str( leaderList ) )
         activeCLIs = [ main.CLIs[i] for i in main.activeNodes ]
-        sameResult, oldLeaders = consistentLeaderboards( activeCLIs )
+        sameResult, oldLeaders = main.HA.consistentLeaderboards( activeCLIs )
         if sameResult:
             oldLeader = oldLeaders[ 0 ][ 0 ]
             main.log.warn( oldLeader )
@@ -3046,7 +2976,7 @@
         main.step( "Check that a new node was elected leader" )
         failMessage = "Nodes have different leaders"
         # Get new leaders and candidates
-        newLeaderResult, newLeaders = consistentLeaderboards( activeCLIs )
+        newLeaderResult, newLeaders = main.HA.consistentLeaderboards( activeCLIs )
         if newLeaders[ 0 ][ 0 ] == 'none':
             main.log.error( "No leader was elected on at least 1 node" )
             if not expectNoLeader:
@@ -3114,7 +3044,7 @@
         # Get new leaders and candidates
         reRunLeaders = []
         time.sleep( 5 ) # Paremterize
-        positionResult, reRunLeaders = consistentLeaderboards( activeCLIs )
+        positionResult, reRunLeaders = main.HA.consistentLeaderboards( activeCLIs )
 
         # Check that the re-elected node is last on the candidate List
         if oldLeader != reRunLeaders[ 0 ][ -1 ]:
@@ -3258,7 +3188,7 @@
                                         " counter" )
 
         main.step( "Counters we added have the correct values" )
-        incrementCheck = main.Counters.counterCheck( pCounterName, pCounterValue )
+        incrementCheck = main.HA.counterCheck( pCounterName, pCounterValue )
         utilities.assert_equals( expect=main.TRUE,
                                  actual=incrementCheck,
                                  onpass="Added counters are correct",
@@ -3358,7 +3288,7 @@
                                         " counter" )
 
         main.step( "Counters we added have the correct values" )
-        incrementCheck = main.Counters.counterCheck( pCounterName, pCounterValue )
+        incrementCheck = main.HA.counterCheck( pCounterName, pCounterValue )
         utilities.assert_equals( expect=main.TRUE,
                                  actual=incrementCheck,
                                  onpass="Added counters are correct",
diff --git a/TestON/tests/HAstopNodes/dependencies/Counters.py b/TestON/tests/HAstopNodes/dependencies/HA.py
similarity index 60%
rename from TestON/tests/HAstopNodes/dependencies/Counters.py
rename to TestON/tests/HAstopNodes/dependencies/HA.py
index 192b919..e00d290 100644
--- a/TestON/tests/HAstopNodes/dependencies/Counters.py
+++ b/TestON/tests/HAstopNodes/dependencies/HA.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import json
+import time
 
-class Counters():
+class HA():
 
     def __init__( self ):
         self.default = ''
@@ -10,12 +11,12 @@
         Checks that TestON counters are consistent across all nodes.
 
         Returns the tuple (onosCounters, consistent)
-        - onosCounters is the parsed json output of the counters command on all nodes
-        - consistent is main.TRUE if all "TestON" counters are consitent across all
-            nodes or main.FALSE
+        - onosCounters is the parsed json output of the counters command on
+          all nodes
+        - consistent is main.TRUE if all "TestON" counters are consitent across
+          all nodes or main.FALSE
         """
         try:
-            correctResults = main.TRUE
             # Get onos counters results
             onosCountersRaw = []
             threads = []
@@ -42,8 +43,8 @@
 
             testCounters = {}
             # make a list of all the "TestON-*" counters in ONOS
-            # lookes like a dict whose keys are the name of the ONOS node and values
-            # are a list of the counters. I.E.
+            # lookes like a dict whose keys are the name of the ONOS node and
+            # values are a list of the counters. I.E.
             # { "ONOS1": [ { "name":"TestON-Partitions","value":56} ]
             # }
             # NOTE: There is an assumtion that all nodes are active
@@ -86,20 +87,75 @@
                 onosValue = None
                 try:
                     onosValue = current.get( counterName )
-                except AttributeError, e:
+                except AttributeError:
                     node = str( main.activeNodes[i] + 1 )
-                    main.log.error( "ONOS" + node + " counters result " +
-                                    "is not as expected" )
+                    main.log.exception( "ONOS" + node + " counters result " +
+                                        "is not as expected" )
                     correctResults = main.FALSE
                 if onosValue == counterValue:
                     main.log.info( counterName + " counter value is correct" )
                 else:
-                    main.log.error( counterName + " counter value is incorrect," +
-                                    " expected value: " + str( counterValue )
-                                    + " current value: " + str( onosValue ) )
+                    main.log.error( counterName +
+                                    " counter value is incorrect," +
+                                    " expected value: " + str( counterValue ) +
+                                    " current value: " + str( onosValue ) )
                     correctResults = main.FALSE
             return consistent and correctResults
         except Exception:
             main.log.exception( "" )
             main.cleanup()
             main.exit()
+
+    def consistentLeaderboards( self, nodes ):
+        TOPIC = 'org.onosproject.election'
+        # FIXME: use threads
+        #FIXME: should we retry outside the function?
+        for n in range( 5 ):  # Retry in case election is still happening
+            leaderList = []
+            # Get all leaderboards
+            for cli in nodes:
+                leaderList.append( cli.specificLeaderCandidate( TOPIC ) )
+            # Compare leaderboards
+            result = all( i == leaderList[0] for i in leaderList ) and\
+                     leaderList is not None
+            main.log.debug( leaderList )
+            main.log.warn( result )
+            if result:
+                return ( result, leaderList )
+            time.sleep(5)  # TODO: paramerterize
+        main.log.error( "Inconsistent leaderboards:" + str( leaderList ) )
+        return ( result, leaderList )
+
+    def nodesCheck( self, nodes ):
+        nodesOutput = []
+        results = True
+        threads = []
+        for i in nodes:
+            t = main.Thread( target=main.CLIs[i].nodes,
+                             name="nodes-" + str( i ),
+                             args=[ ] )
+            threads.append( t )
+            t.start()
+
+        for t in threads:
+            t.join()
+            nodesOutput.append( t.result )
+        ips = [ main.nodes[node].ip_address for node in nodes ]
+        ips.sort()
+        for i in nodesOutput:
+            try:
+                current = json.loads( i )
+                activeIps = []
+                currentResult = False
+                for node in current:
+                    if node['state'] == 'READY':
+                        activeIps.append( node['ip'] )
+                activeIps.sort()
+                if ips == activeIps:
+                    currentResult = True
+            except ( ValueError, TypeError ):
+                main.log.error( "Error parsing nodes output" )
+                main.log.warn( repr( i ) )
+                currentResult = False
+            results = results and currentResult
+        return results