diff --git a/providers/netcfghost/src/main/java/org/onosproject/provider/netcfghost/NetworkConfigHostProvider.java b/providers/netcfghost/src/main/java/org/onosproject/provider/netcfghost/NetworkConfigHostProvider.java
index 972b687..41e39dd 100644
--- a/providers/netcfghost/src/main/java/org/onosproject/provider/netcfghost/NetworkConfigHostProvider.java
+++ b/providers/netcfghost/src/main/java/org/onosproject/provider/netcfghost/NetworkConfigHostProvider.java
@@ -110,7 +110,9 @@
      */
     protected void addHost(MacAddress mac, VlanId vlan, HostLocation hloc, Set<IpAddress> ips) {
         HostId hid = HostId.hostId(mac, vlan);
-        HostDescription desc = new DefaultHostDescription(mac, vlan, hloc, ips);
+        HostDescription desc = (ips != null) ?
+                new DefaultHostDescription(mac, vlan, hloc, ips) :
+                new DefaultHostDescription(mac, vlan, hloc);
         providerService.hostDetected(hid, desc, false);
     }