diff --git a/web/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/rest/resources/ApplicationsWebResource.java b/web/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/rest/resources/ApplicationsWebResource.java
index f02947a..6163af4 100644
--- a/web/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/rest/resources/ApplicationsWebResource.java
+++ b/web/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/rest/resources/ApplicationsWebResource.java
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@
     @Path("{name}/active")
     public Response activateApp(@PathParam("name") String name) {
         ApplicationAdminService service = get(ApplicationAdminService.class);
-        ApplicationId appId = service.getId(name);
+        ApplicationId appId = nullIsNotFound(service.getId(name), APP_NOT_FOUND);
         service.activate(appId);
         return response(service, appId);
     }