diff --git a/protocols/openflow/ctl/src/main/java/org/onosproject/openflow/controller/impl/OpenFlowControllerImpl.java b/protocols/openflow/ctl/src/main/java/org/onosproject/openflow/controller/impl/OpenFlowControllerImpl.java
index b3942a8..e3d16da 100644
--- a/protocols/openflow/ctl/src/main/java/org/onosproject/openflow/controller/impl/OpenFlowControllerImpl.java
+++ b/protocols/openflow/ctl/src/main/java/org/onosproject/openflow/controller/impl/OpenFlowControllerImpl.java
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@
         service = OpenFlowController.class,
         property = {
                 OFPORTS + "=" + OFPORTS_DEFAULT,
-                WORKER_THREADS + "=" + WORKER_THREADS_DEFAULT,
+                WORKER_THREADS + ":Integer=" + WORKER_THREADS_DEFAULT,
                 TLS_MODE + "=" + TLS_MODE_DEFAULT,
                 KEY_STORE + "=" + KEY_STORE_DEFAULT,
                 KEY_STORE_PASSWORD + "=" + KEY_STORE_PASSWORD_DEFAULT,