diff --git a/apps/sdnip/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/sdnip/SdnIp.java b/apps/sdnip/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/sdnip/SdnIp.java
index 4b67546..0f6e38a 100644
--- a/apps/sdnip/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/sdnip/SdnIp.java
+++ b/apps/sdnip/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/sdnip/SdnIp.java
@@ -77,6 +77,10 @@
         router = new Router(appId, intentService, hostService, config, interfaceService);
         router.start();
 
+        // Manually set the router as the leader to allow testing
+        // TODO change this when we get a leader election
+        router.leaderChanged(true);
+
         bgpSessionManager = new BgpSessionManager(router);
         bgpSessionManager.startUp(2000); // TODO
 
@@ -99,6 +103,11 @@
         return router.getRoutes();
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public void modifyPrimary(boolean isPrimary) {
+        router.leaderChanged(isPrimary);
+    }
+
     static String dpidToUri(String dpid) {
         return "of:" + dpid.replace(":", "");
     }