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.
      *
diff --git a/core/net/src/test/java/org/onosproject/cluster/impl/MastershipManagerTest.java b/core/net/src/test/java/org/onosproject/cluster/impl/MastershipManagerTest.java
index 50fc377..2666910 100644
--- a/core/net/src/test/java/org/onosproject/cluster/impl/MastershipManagerTest.java
+++ b/core/net/src/test/java/org/onosproject/cluster/impl/MastershipManagerTest.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableList;
 import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableSet;
+import com.google.common.collect.Lists;
 import org.easymock.EasyMock;
 import org.junit.After;
 import org.junit.Before;
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@
 import org.onosproject.cluster.DefaultControllerNode;
 import org.onosproject.cluster.NodeId;
 import org.onosproject.common.event.impl.TestEventDispatcher;
+import org.onosproject.mastership.MastershipInfo;
 import org.onosproject.mastership.MastershipService;
 import org.onosproject.mastership.MastershipStore;
 import org.onosproject.mastership.MastershipTermService;
@@ -354,6 +356,32 @@
         checkDeviceMasters(deviceIds, expectedMasters);
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void demote() {
+        mgr.setRole(NID1, DID1, MASTER);
+        mgr.setRole(NID2, DID1, STANDBY);
+        mgr.setRole(NID3, DID1, STANDBY);
+        List<NodeId> stdbys = Lists.newArrayList(NID2, NID3);
+        MastershipInfo mastershipInfo = mgr.getMastershipFor(DID1);
+        assertTrue(mastershipInfo.master().isPresent());
+        assertEquals("wrong role", NID1, mastershipInfo.master().get());
+        assertEquals("wrong backups", stdbys, mastershipInfo.backups());
+        // No effect, it is the master
+        mgr.demote(NID1, DID1);
+        assertEquals("wrong role", NID1, mastershipInfo.master().get());
+        assertEquals("wrong backups", stdbys, mastershipInfo.backups());
+        // No effect, it is not part of the mastership
+        mgr.demote(NID4, DID1);
+        assertEquals("wrong role", NID1, mastershipInfo.master().get());
+        assertEquals("wrong backups", stdbys, mastershipInfo.backups());
+        // Demote N2
+        mgr.demote(NID2, DID1);
+        stdbys = Lists.newArrayList(NID3, NID2);
+        mastershipInfo = mgr.getMastershipFor(DID1);
+        assertEquals("wrong role", NID1, mastershipInfo.master().get());
+        assertEquals("wrong backups", stdbys, mastershipInfo.backups());
+    }
+
     private void checkDeviceMasters(Set<DeviceId> deviceIds, Set<NodeId> expectedMasters) {
         checkDeviceMasters(deviceIds, expectedMasters, null);
     }