diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/ofcontroller/util/FlowEntry.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/ofcontroller/util/FlowEntry.java
index 768a378..98dbd88 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/ofcontroller/util/FlowEntry.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/ofcontroller/util/FlowEntry.java
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@
     public boolean isValidFlowId() {
 	if (this.flowId == null)
 	    return false;
-	return (this.flowId.value() != 0);
+	return (this.flowId.isValid());
     }
 
     /**
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@
     public boolean isValidFlowEntryId() {
 	if (this.flowEntryId == null)
 	    return false;
-	return (this.flowEntryId.value() != 0);
+	return (this.flowEntryId.isValid());
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/ofcontroller/util/FlowEntryId.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/ofcontroller/util/FlowEntryId.java
index 29efe4c..f5728b0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/ofcontroller/util/FlowEntryId.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/ofcontroller/util/FlowEntryId.java
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import net.onrc.onos.ofcontroller.util.serializers.FlowEntryIdDeserializer;
 import net.onrc.onos.ofcontroller.util.serializers.FlowEntryIdSerializer;
 
+import org.codehaus.jackson.annotate.JsonIgnore;
 import org.codehaus.jackson.map.annotate.JsonDeserialize;
 import org.codehaus.jackson.map.annotate.JsonSerialize;
 
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@
      * Default constructor.
      */
     public FlowEntryId() {
-	this.value = 0;
+	this.value = -1;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -66,7 +67,17 @@
     public void setValue(long value) {
 	this.value = value;
     }
-    
+
+    /**
+     * Test whether the Flow Entry ID is valid.
+     *
+     * @return true if the Flow Entry ID is valid, otherwise false.
+     */
+    @JsonIgnore
+    public boolean isValid() {
+	return (this.value() != -1);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Returns true of the object is another Flow Entry ID with 
      * the same value; otherwise, returns false.
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/ofcontroller/util/FlowId.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/ofcontroller/util/FlowId.java
index de955ba..d90e96f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/ofcontroller/util/FlowId.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/ofcontroller/util/FlowId.java
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import net.onrc.onos.ofcontroller.util.serializers.FlowIdDeserializer;
 import net.onrc.onos.ofcontroller.util.serializers.FlowIdSerializer;
 
+import org.codehaus.jackson.annotate.JsonIgnore;
 import org.codehaus.jackson.map.annotate.JsonDeserialize;
 import org.codehaus.jackson.map.annotate.JsonSerialize;
 
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@
      * Default constructor.
      */
     public FlowId() {
-	this.value = 0;
+	this.value = -1;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -68,6 +69,16 @@
     }
 
     /**
+     * Test whether the Flow ID is valid.
+     *
+     * @return true if the Flow ID is valid, otherwise false.
+     */
+    @JsonIgnore
+    public boolean isValid() {
+	return (this.value() != -1);
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Convert the Flow ID value to a hexadecimal string.
      *
      * @return the Flow ID value to a hexadecimal string.