diff --git a/openflow/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/of/controller/driver/SwitchStateException.java b/openflow/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/of/controller/driver/SwitchStateException.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..55b12de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openflow/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/of/controller/driver/SwitchStateException.java
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+/**
+ *    Copyright 2011, Big Switch Networks, Inc.
+ *    Originally created by David Erickson, Stanford University
+ *
+ *    Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+ *    not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+ *    a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *         http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ *    Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ *    distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+ *    WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+ *    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+ *    under the License.
+ **/
+
+package org.onlab.onos.of.controller.driver;
+
+/**
+ * This exception indicates an error or unexpected message during
+ * message handling. E.g., if an OFMessage is received that is illegal or
+ * unexpected given the current handshake state.
+ *
+ * We don't allow wrapping other exception in a switch state exception. We
+ * only log the SwitchStateExceptions message so the causing exceptions
+ * stack trace is generally not available.
+ *
+ */
+public class SwitchStateException extends Exception {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 9153954512470002631L;
+
+    public SwitchStateException() {
+        super();
+    }
+
+    public SwitchStateException(String arg0, Throwable arg1) {
+        super(arg0, arg1);
+    }
+
+    public SwitchStateException(String arg0) {
+        super(arg0);
+    }
+
+    public SwitchStateException(Throwable arg0) {
+        super(arg0);
+    }
+
+}