diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/impl/LeadershipManager.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/impl/LeadershipManager.java
index 5d02b5d..f582f30 100644
--- a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/impl/LeadershipManager.java
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/impl/LeadershipManager.java
@@ -103,6 +103,11 @@
     }
 
     @Override
+    public boolean demote(String topic, NodeId nodeId) {
+        return store.demote(topic, nodeId);
+    }
+
+    @Override
     public boolean transferLeadership(String topic, NodeId to) {
         return store.moveLeadership(topic, to);
     }
diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/impl/MastershipManager.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/impl/MastershipManager.java
index 442aaef..d6a7eae 100644
--- a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/impl/MastershipManager.java
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/impl/MastershipManager.java
@@ -305,6 +305,15 @@
         Futures.getUnchecked(balanceRolesFuture);
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public void demote(NodeId instance, DeviceId deviceId) {
+        checkNotNull(instance, NODE_ID_NULL);
+        checkNotNull(deviceId, DEVICE_ID_NULL);
+        checkPermission(CLUSTER_WRITE);
+
+        store.demote(instance, deviceId);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Balances the nodes specified in controllerDevices.
      *