diff --git a/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/BalanceMastersCommand.java b/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/BalanceMastersCommand.java
index 1f4c17d..a3f3c23 100644
--- a/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/BalanceMastersCommand.java
+++ b/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/BalanceMastersCommand.java
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@
             DeviceId deviceId = it.next();
 
             // Check that the transfer can happen for the current element.
-            if (mastershipService.getNodesFor(deviceId).backups().contains(smallest)) {
+            if (mastershipService.getNodesFor(deviceId).backups().contains(smallest.id())) {
                 print("Setting %s as the new master for %s", smallest.id(), deviceId);
                 adminService.setRole(smallest.id(), deviceId, MastershipRole.MASTER);
                 i++;