diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/flow/FlowRuleStore.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/flow/FlowRuleStore.java
index 449a1fd..07493a8 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/flow/FlowRuleStore.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/flow/FlowRuleStore.java
@@ -45,6 +45,17 @@
     }
 
     /**
+     * Returns the number of flow rules in the given state for the given device.
+     *
+     * @param deviceId the device identifier
+     * @param state the state for which to count flow rules
+     * @return number of flow rules in the given state for the given device
+     */
+    default int getFlowRuleCount(DeviceId deviceId, FlowEntry.FlowEntryState state) {
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Returns the stored flow.
      *
      * @param rule the rule to look for
@@ -154,6 +165,8 @@
      *
      * @param deviceId the device ID
      * @return number of flow rules in ADDED state
+     * @deprecated since 2.1
      */
+    @Deprecated
     long getActiveFlowRuleCount(DeviceId deviceId);
 }