diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/service/impl/DatabaseClient.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/service/impl/DatabaseClient.java
index c3f9118..17f356b 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/service/impl/DatabaseClient.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/service/impl/DatabaseClient.java
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
     @Override
     public void handle(ClusterMessage message) {
         LeaderElectEvent event =
-                ClusterMessagingProtocol.SERIALIZER.decode(message.payload());
+                ClusterMessagingProtocol.DB_SERIALIZER.decode(message.payload());
         TcpMember newLeader = event.leader();
         long newLeaderTerm = event.term();
         if (newLeader != null && !newLeader.equals(currentLeader) && newLeaderTerm > currentLeaderTerm) {