diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/MessagingException.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/MessagingException.java
index e71ac10..e954d0f 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/MessagingException.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/cluster/messaging/MessagingException.java
@@ -49,4 +49,10 @@
      */
     public static class RemoteHandlerFailure extends MessagingException {
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Exception indicating failure due to invalid message strucuture such as an incorrect preamble.
+     */
+    public static class ProcotolException extends MessagingException {
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file