diff --git a/web/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/rest/resources/HostsWebResource.java b/web/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/rest/resources/HostsWebResource.java
index 26adef8..3e5dc21 100644
--- a/web/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/rest/resources/HostsWebResource.java
+++ b/web/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/rest/resources/HostsWebResource.java
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@
 import java.util.Set;
 
 import static org.onlab.util.Tools.nullIsNotFound;
+import static org.onlab.util.Tools.readTreeFromStream;
 import static org.onosproject.net.HostId.hostId;
 
 /**
@@ -139,7 +140,7 @@
         URI location;
         try {
             // Parse the input stream
-            ObjectNode root = (ObjectNode) mapper().readTree(stream);
+            ObjectNode root = readTreeFromStream(mapper(), stream);
 
             HostProviderRegistry hostProviderRegistry = get(HostProviderRegistry.class);
             InternalHostProvider hostProvider = new InternalHostProvider();