diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/AnnotationKeys.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/AnnotationKeys.java
index 31e489e..5af7f7a 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/AnnotationKeys.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/AnnotationKeys.java
@@ -89,6 +89,16 @@
     public static final String DRIVER = "driver";
 
     /**
+     * Annotation key for the device availability behavior. The value of this key
+     * is expected to be a boolean ({@code true} or {@code false}) and it is
+     * used to determine if the device can be marked online by the core when
+     * deemed appropriate (value is {@code false}, default behaviour if key is
+     * not present), or if marking online should be left to providers ({@code
+     * true}).
+     */
+    public static final String PROVIDER_MARK_ONLINE = "providerMarkOnline";
+
+    /**
      * Annotation key for durable links.
      */
     public static final String DURABLE = "durable";
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/DefaultDevice.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/DefaultDevice.java
index 9d9cc1b..ea25ed5 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/DefaultDevice.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/DefaultDevice.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 package org.onosproject.net;
 
 import org.onlab.packet.ChassisId;
+import org.onlab.util.ItemNotFoundException;
 import org.onosproject.net.driver.Behaviour;
 import org.onosproject.net.driver.DefaultDriverHandler;
 import org.onosproject.net.driver.Driver;
@@ -152,9 +153,11 @@
 
     @Override
     protected Driver locateDriver() {
-        Driver driver = super.locateDriver();
-        return driver != null ? driver :
-                driverService().getDriver(manufacturer, hwVersion, swVersion);
+        try {
+            return driverService().getDriver(id());
+        } catch (ItemNotFoundException e) {
+            return null;
+        }
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/pi/service/PiPipeconfService.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/pi/service/PiPipeconfService.java
index b574b5b..e9539a5 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/pi/service/PiPipeconfService.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/pi/service/PiPipeconfService.java
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@
      * @param pipeconfId a pipeconf identifier
      * @return driver name or null.
      */
-    String mergeDriver(DeviceId deviceId, PiPipeconfId pipeconfId);
+    String getMergedDriver(DeviceId deviceId, PiPipeconfId pipeconfId);
 
     /**
      * Returns the pipeconf identifier currently associated with the given