diff --git a/protocols/lisp/ctl/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/impl/LispControllerBootstrap.java b/protocols/lisp/ctl/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/impl/LispControllerBootstrap.java
index c529123..56695a4 100644
--- a/protocols/lisp/ctl/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/impl/LispControllerBootstrap.java
+++ b/protocols/lisp/ctl/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/impl/LispControllerBootstrap.java
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@
         try {
             eventLoopGroup = new EpollEventLoopGroup();
             channelClass = EpollDatagramChannel.class;
-        } catch (RuntimeException e) {
+        } catch (NoClassDefFoundError e) {
             log.debug("Failed to initialize native (epoll) transport. "
                         + "Reason: {}. Proceeding with NIO event group.", e);
         }