diff --git a/openflow/ctl/src/main/java/org/onosproject/openflow/controller/impl/OFChannelHandler.java b/openflow/ctl/src/main/java/org/onosproject/openflow/controller/impl/OFChannelHandler.java
index 450aa82..1a088ff 100644
--- a/openflow/ctl/src/main/java/org/onosproject/openflow/controller/impl/OFChannelHandler.java
+++ b/openflow/ctl/src/main/java/org/onosproject/openflow/controller/impl/OFChannelHandler.java
@@ -941,7 +941,8 @@
         void processOFHello(OFChannelHandler h, OFHello m)
                 throws IOException, SwitchStateException {
             // we only expect hello in the WAIT_HELLO state
-            illegalMessageReceived(h, m);
+            log.warn("Received Hello outside WAIT_HELLO state; switch {} is not complaint.",
+                     h.channel.getRemoteAddress());
         }
 
         void processOFBarrierReply(OFChannelHandler h, OFBarrierReply m)