diff --git a/protocols/openflow/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/openflow/controller/OpenFlowController.java b/protocols/openflow/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/openflow/controller/OpenFlowController.java
index df85811..43dd80b 100644
--- a/protocols/openflow/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/openflow/controller/OpenFlowController.java
+++ b/protocols/openflow/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/openflow/controller/OpenFlowController.java
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 
 import org.projectfloodlight.openflow.protocol.OFMessage;
 
+import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
+
 /**
  * Abstraction of an OpenFlow controller. Serves as a one stop
  * shop for obtaining OpenFlow devices and (un)register listeners
@@ -128,6 +130,15 @@
     void write(Dpid dpid, OFMessage msg);
 
     /**
+     * Send a message to a particular switch and return the future response.
+     *
+     * @param dpid the switch to send to
+     * @param msg the message to send
+     * @return future for response message
+     */
+    CompletableFuture<OFMessage> writeResponse(Dpid dpid, OFMessage msg);
+
+    /**
      * Process a message and notify the appropriate listeners.
      *
      * @param dpid the dpid the message arrived on
diff --git a/protocols/openflow/api/src/test/java/org/onosproject/openflow/controller/OpenflowControllerAdapter.java b/protocols/openflow/api/src/test/java/org/onosproject/openflow/controller/OpenflowControllerAdapter.java
index 20e2aed..26122e3 100644
--- a/protocols/openflow/api/src/test/java/org/onosproject/openflow/controller/OpenflowControllerAdapter.java
+++ b/protocols/openflow/api/src/test/java/org/onosproject/openflow/controller/OpenflowControllerAdapter.java
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 
 import org.projectfloodlight.openflow.protocol.OFMessage;
 
+import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
+
 /**
  * Test adapter for the OpenFlow controller interface.
  */
@@ -82,6 +84,11 @@
     }
 
     @Override
+    public CompletableFuture<OFMessage> writeResponse(Dpid dpid, OFMessage msg) {
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    @Override
     public void processPacket(Dpid dpid, OFMessage msg) {
     }