diff --git a/openflow/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/of/controller/driver/SwitchDriverSubHandshakeNotStarted.java b/openflow/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/of/controller/driver/SwitchDriverSubHandshakeNotStarted.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f34b0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openflow/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/of/controller/driver/SwitchDriverSubHandshakeNotStarted.java
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.of.controller.driver;
+
+/**
+ * Thrown when a switch driver's sub-handshake has not been started but an
+ * operation requiring the sub-handshake has been attempted.
+ *
+ */
+public class SwitchDriverSubHandshakeNotStarted extends
+    SwitchDriverSubHandshakeException {
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = -5491845708752443501L;
+
+    public SwitchDriverSubHandshakeNotStarted() {
+        super();
+    }
+}