diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/ClusterCommunicationService.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/ClusterCommunicationService.java
index bb17cbc..e8cf7d3 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/ClusterCommunicationService.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/ClusterCommunicationService.java
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@
             Function<M, byte[]> encoder,
             Function<byte[], R> decoder,
             NodeId toNodeId) {
-        return sendAndReceive(message, subject, encoder, decoder, toNodeId, Duration.ZERO);
+        return sendAndReceive(message, subject, encoder, decoder, toNodeId, null);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/MessagingService.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/MessagingService.java
index 8927e51..ebbe615 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/MessagingService.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/MessagingService.java
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
      * @return a response future
      */
     default CompletableFuture<byte[]> sendAndReceive(Endpoint ep, String type, byte[] payload) {
-        return sendAndReceive(ep, type, payload, Duration.ZERO, MoreExecutors.directExecutor());
+        return sendAndReceive(ep, type, payload, null, MoreExecutors.directExecutor());
     }
 
     /**
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
      * @return a response future
      */
     default CompletableFuture<byte[]> sendAndReceive(Endpoint ep, String type, byte[] payload, Executor executor) {
-        return sendAndReceive(ep, type, payload, Duration.ZERO, executor);
+        return sendAndReceive(ep, type, payload, null, executor);
     }
 
     /**