diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/impl/DistributedLeadershipStore.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/impl/DistributedLeadershipStore.java
index e8dde09..b1bae21 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/impl/DistributedLeadershipStore.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/impl/DistributedLeadershipStore.java
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@
     @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
     protected UpgradeService upgradeService;
 
-    private static final long DEFAULT_ELECTION_TIMEOUT_MILLIS = 5000;
+    private static final long DEFAULT_ELECTION_TIMEOUT_MILLIS = 250;
     @Property(name = "electionTimeoutMillis", longValue = DEFAULT_ELECTION_TIMEOUT_MILLIS,
             label = "the leader election timeout in milliseconds")
     private long electionTimeoutMillis = DEFAULT_ELECTION_TIMEOUT_MILLIS;