diff --git a/providers/openflow/device/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/provider/of/device/impl/OpenFlowDeviceProvider.java b/providers/openflow/device/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/provider/of/device/impl/OpenFlowDeviceProvider.java
index 617b0ba..c44a4d4 100644
--- a/providers/openflow/device/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/provider/of/device/impl/OpenFlowDeviceProvider.java
+++ b/providers/openflow/device/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/provider/of/device/impl/OpenFlowDeviceProvider.java
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 import org.projectfloodlight.openflow.protocol.OFPortConfig;
 import org.projectfloodlight.openflow.protocol.OFPortDesc;
 import org.projectfloodlight.openflow.protocol.OFPortFeatures;
+import org.projectfloodlight.openflow.protocol.OFPortReason;
 import org.projectfloodlight.openflow.protocol.OFPortState;
 import org.projectfloodlight.openflow.protocol.OFPortStatus;
 import org.projectfloodlight.openflow.protocol.OFVersion;
@@ -242,7 +243,7 @@
 
         @Override
         public void portChanged(Dpid dpid, OFPortStatus status) {
-            PortDescription portDescription = buildPortDescription(status.getDesc());
+            PortDescription portDescription = buildPortDescription(status);
             providerService.portStatusChanged(deviceId(uri(dpid)), portDescription);
         }
 
@@ -303,6 +304,17 @@
             return new DefaultPortDescription(portNo, enabled, type, portSpeed(port));
         }
 
+        private PortDescription buildPortDescription(OFPortStatus status) {
+            OFPortDesc port = status.getDesc();
+            if (status.getReason() != OFPortReason.DELETE) {
+                return buildPortDescription(port);
+            } else {
+                PortNumber portNo = PortNumber.portNumber(port.getPortNo().getPortNumber());
+                Port.Type type = port.getCurr().contains(OFPortFeatures.PF_FIBER) ? FIBER : COPPER;
+                return new DefaultPortDescription(portNo, false, type, portSpeed(port));
+            }
+        }
+
         private long portSpeed(OFPortDesc port) {
             if (port.getVersion() == OFVersion.OF_13) {
                 return port.getCurrSpeed() / MBPS;