diff --git a/providers/openflow/group/src/main/java/org/onosproject/provider/of/group/impl/OpenFlowGroupProvider.java b/providers/openflow/group/src/main/java/org/onosproject/provider/of/group/impl/OpenFlowGroupProvider.java
index 35ed436..da8e694 100644
--- a/providers/openflow/group/src/main/java/org/onosproject/provider/of/group/impl/OpenFlowGroupProvider.java
+++ b/providers/openflow/group/src/main/java/org/onosproject/provider/of/group/impl/OpenFlowGroupProvider.java
@@ -394,7 +394,8 @@
         if (driver == null) {
             return true;
         }
-        return Boolean.parseBoolean(driver.getProperty(GROUP_CAPABLE));
+        String isGroupCapable = driver.getProperty(GROUP_CAPABLE);
+        return isGroupCapable == null || Boolean.parseBoolean(isGroupCapable);
     }
 
     private class InternalGroupProvider