diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/intent/constraint/ProtectionConstraint.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/intent/constraint/ProtectionConstraint.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d4d2c74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/intent/constraint/ProtectionConstraint.java
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.onosproject.net.intent.constraint;
+
+import com.google.common.annotations.Beta;
+import org.onosproject.net.Link;
+import org.onosproject.net.Path;
+import org.onosproject.net.intent.Constraint;
+import org.onosproject.net.intent.Intent;
+import org.onosproject.net.intent.PointToPointIntent;
+import org.onosproject.net.intent.ResourceContext;
+
+/**
+ * Constraint that determines whether to employ path protection.
+ */
+@Beta
+public class ProtectionConstraint implements Constraint {
+    // doesn't use LinkResourceService
+    @Override
+    public double cost(Link link, ResourceContext context) {
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    // doesn't use LinkResourceService
+    @Override
+    public boolean validate(Path path, ResourceContext context) {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Determines whether to utilize path protection for the given intent.
+     *
+     * @param intent  intent to be inspected
+     * @return        whether the intent has a ProtectionConstraint
+     */
+    public static boolean requireProtectedPath(Intent intent) {
+        if (intent instanceof PointToPointIntent) {
+            PointToPointIntent pointToPointIntent = (PointToPointIntent) intent;
+            return pointToPointIntent.constraints().stream()
+                    .anyMatch(p -> p instanceof ProtectionConstraint);
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+}