diff --git a/drivers/default/src/main/java/org/onosproject/driver/pipeline/XpliantPipeline.java b/drivers/default/src/main/java/org/onosproject/driver/pipeline/XpliantPipeline.java
index 2dca42d..eced43e 100644
--- a/drivers/default/src/main/java/org/onosproject/driver/pipeline/XpliantPipeline.java
+++ b/drivers/default/src/main/java/org/onosproject/driver/pipeline/XpliantPipeline.java
@@ -34,6 +34,13 @@
 
     @Override
     protected void initGroupHander(PipelinerContext context) {
+        // Terminate internal references
+        // We are terminating the references here
+        // because when the device is offline the apps
+        // are still sending flowobjectives
+        if (groupHandler != null) {
+            groupHandler.terminate();
+        }
         groupHandler = new XpliantGroupHandler();
         groupHandler.init(deviceId, context);
     }