diff --git a/of/ctl/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/of/controller/impl/internal/SwitchDriverSubHandshakeException.java b/of/ctl/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/of/controller/impl/internal/SwitchDriverSubHandshakeException.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..49fdead
--- /dev/null
+++ b/of/ctl/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/of/controller/impl/internal/SwitchDriverSubHandshakeException.java
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.of.controller.impl.internal;
+
+/**
+ * Base class for exception thrown by switch driver sub-handshake processing.
+ *
+ */
+public class SwitchDriverSubHandshakeException extends RuntimeException {
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = -6257836781419604438L;
+
+    protected SwitchDriverSubHandshakeException() {
+        super();
+    }
+
+    protected SwitchDriverSubHandshakeException(String arg0, Throwable arg1) {
+        super(arg0, arg1);
+    }
+
+    protected SwitchDriverSubHandshakeException(String arg0) {
+        super(arg0);
+    }
+
+    protected SwitchDriverSubHandshakeException(Throwable arg0) {
+        super(arg0);
+    }
+
+}