diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/link/impl/GossipLinkStore.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/link/impl/GossipLinkStore.java
index 4ba8cca..c3c2aa9 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/link/impl/GossipLinkStore.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/link/impl/GossipLinkStore.java
@@ -466,8 +466,8 @@
         try {
             timestamp = deviceClockService.getTimestamp(dstDeviceId);
         } catch (IllegalStateException e) {
-            log.warn("Failed to remove link {}, was not the master", key);
-            //there are times when this is called before mastership
+            log.debug("Failed to remove link {}, was not the master", key);
+            // there are times when this is called before mastership
             // handoff correctly completes.
             return null;
         }