diff --git a/drivers/default/src/main/java/org/onosproject/driver/pipeline/ofdpa/OvsOfdpaPipeline.java b/drivers/default/src/main/java/org/onosproject/driver/pipeline/ofdpa/OvsOfdpaPipeline.java
index 9799197..8ca774a 100644
--- a/drivers/default/src/main/java/org/onosproject/driver/pipeline/ofdpa/OvsOfdpaPipeline.java
+++ b/drivers/default/src/main/java/org/onosproject/driver/pipeline/ofdpa/OvsOfdpaPipeline.java
@@ -152,6 +152,13 @@
 
     @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 OvsOfdpaGroupHandler();
         groupHandler.init(deviceId, context);
     }