diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/RoleInfo.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/RoleInfo.java
index bf7442ee0a..d2bee8b091 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/RoleInfo.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/RoleInfo.java
@@ -1,12 +1,9 @@
 package org.onlab.onos.cluster;
 
 import java.util.Collections;
-import java.util.LinkedList;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Objects;
 
-import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
-
 /**
  * A container for detailed role information for a device,
  * within the current cluster. Role attributes include current
@@ -18,9 +15,7 @@ public class RoleInfo {
 
     public RoleInfo(NodeId master, List<NodeId> backups) {
         this.master = master;
-        this.backups = new LinkedList<>();
-
-        this.backups.addAll(checkNotNull(backups));
+        this.backups = Collections.unmodifiableList(backups);
     }
 
     public NodeId master() {
@@ -28,7 +23,7 @@ public class RoleInfo {
     }
 
     public List<NodeId> backups() {
-        return Collections.unmodifiableList(backups);
+        return backups;
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -57,10 +52,10 @@ public class RoleInfo {
     @Override
     public String toString() {
         final StringBuilder builder = new StringBuilder();
-        builder.append("master: \n\t").append(master).append("\n");
-        builder.append("backups: \n");
+        builder.append("master:").append(master).append(",");
+        builder.append("backups:");
         for (NodeId n : backups) {
-            builder.append("\t").append(n).append("\n");
+            builder.append(" ").append(n);
         }
         return builder.toString();
     }