diff --git a/protocols/openflow/ctl/src/main/java/org/onosproject/openflow/controller/impl/OpenflowPipelineFactory.java b/protocols/openflow/ctl/src/main/java/org/onosproject/openflow/controller/impl/OpenflowPipelineFactory.java
index 6da37e4..c94d315 100644
--- a/protocols/openflow/ctl/src/main/java/org/onosproject/openflow/controller/impl/OpenflowPipelineFactory.java
+++ b/protocols/openflow/ctl/src/main/java/org/onosproject/openflow/controller/impl/OpenflowPipelineFactory.java
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@
 
 import javax.net.ssl.SSLContext;
 import javax.net.ssl.SSLEngine;
+
+import static org.onlab.util.Tools.groupedThreads;
+
 import java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor;
 
 /**
@@ -55,7 +58,7 @@
         super();
         this.controller = controller;
         this.pipelineExecutor = pipelineExecutor;
-        this.timer = new HashedWheelTimer();
+        this.timer = new HashedWheelTimer(groupedThreads("OpenflowPipelineFactory", "timer-%d", log));
         this.idleHandler = new IdleStateHandler(timer, 20, 25, 0);
         this.readTimeoutHandler = new ReadTimeoutHandler(timer, 30);
         this.sslContext = sslContext;