diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/registry/controller/ZookeeperRegistry.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/registry/controller/ZookeeperRegistry.java
index 5dd4fc9..3e4d5bf 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/registry/controller/ZookeeperRegistry.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/registry/controller/ZookeeperRegistry.java
@@ -99,8 +99,9 @@
 			//may have since released the request or even begun another request
 			//(this is why we use == to check the object instance is the same)
 			SwitchLeadershipData swData = switches.get(dpid);
-			if (swData != null) {
+			if (swData == null) {
 				log.debug("Leadership data {} not found", dpid);
+				return;
 			}
 			
 			if (swData.getLatch() == latch){