diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/FlowRuleService.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/FlowRuleService.java
index 2ebc5a25..ccbb33b 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/FlowRuleService.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/FlowRuleService.java
@@ -13,6 +13,13 @@
 public interface FlowRuleService {
 
     /**
+     * Returns the number of flow rules in the system.
+     *
+     * @return flow rule count
+     */
+    int getFlowRuleCount();
+
+    /**
      * Returns the collection of flow entries applied on the specified device.
      * This will include flow rules which may not yet have been applied to
      * the device.
@@ -72,7 +79,4 @@
      * @param listener flow rule listener
      */
     void removeListener(FlowRuleListener listener);
-
-
-
 }
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/FlowRuleStore.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/FlowRuleStore.java
index 4d68e74..5ce7eb1 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/FlowRuleStore.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/FlowRuleStore.java
@@ -10,7 +10,15 @@
 public interface FlowRuleStore extends Store<FlowRuleEvent, FlowRuleStoreDelegate> {
 
     /**
+     * Returns the number of flow rule in the store.
+     *
+     * @return number of flow rules
+     */
+    int getFlowRuleCount();
+
+    /**
      * Returns the stored flow.
+     *
      * @param rule the rule to look for
      * @return a flow rule
      */
@@ -60,5 +68,4 @@
      * @return flow_removed event, or null if nothing removed
      */
     FlowRuleEvent removeFlowRule(FlowEntry rule);
-
 }