diff --git a/apps/mlb/src/main/java/org/onosproject/mlb/MastershipLoadBalancer.java b/apps/mlb/src/main/java/org/onosproject/mlb/MastershipLoadBalancer.java
index bcf4e2e..b2a33a9 100644
--- a/apps/mlb/src/main/java/org/onosproject/mlb/MastershipLoadBalancer.java
+++ b/apps/mlb/src/main/java/org/onosproject/mlb/MastershipLoadBalancer.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 import com.google.common.util.concurrent.ListenableScheduledFuture;
 import com.google.common.util.concurrent.ListeningScheduledExecutorService;
 import com.google.common.util.concurrent.MoreExecutors;
+
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Activate;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Component;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Deactivate;
@@ -105,10 +106,7 @@
         log.info("Stopped");
     }
 
-    private synchronized void processLeadershipChange(NodeId newLeader) {
-        if (newLeader == null) {
-            return;
-        }
+    private synchronized void processLeaderChange(NodeId newLeader) {
         boolean currLeader = newLeader.equals(localId);
         if (isLeader.getAndSet(currLeader) != currLeader) {
             if (currLeader) {
@@ -159,7 +157,7 @@
 
         @Override
         public void event(LeadershipEvent event) {
-            processLeadershipChange(event.subject().leader());
+            processLeaderChange(event.subject().leaderNodeId());
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}