diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/flowobjective/DefaultFilteringObjective.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/flowobjective/DefaultFilteringObjective.java
index 0eaf3485b8..3cc646f1c5 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/flowobjective/DefaultFilteringObjective.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/flowobjective/DefaultFilteringObjective.java
@@ -272,6 +272,8 @@ public final class DefaultFilteringObjective implements FilteringObjective {
             checkNotNull(type, "Must have a type.");
             checkArgument(!conditions.isEmpty(), "Must have at least one condition.");
             checkNotNull(appId, "Must supply an application id");
+            checkArgument(priority <= MAX_PRIORITY && priority >= MIN_PRIORITY, "Priority " +
+                    "out of range");
 
             return new DefaultFilteringObjective(this);
         }
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/flowobjective/DefaultForwardingObjective.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/flowobjective/DefaultForwardingObjective.java
index 84e38aff3e..f83d5e1740 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/flowobjective/DefaultForwardingObjective.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/flowobjective/DefaultForwardingObjective.java
@@ -283,6 +283,8 @@ public final class DefaultForwardingObjective implements ForwardingObjective {
             checkArgument(nextId != null || treatment != null, "Must supply at " +
                     "least a treatment and/or a nextId");
             checkNotNull(appId, "Must supply an application id");
+            checkArgument(priority <= MAX_PRIORITY && priority >= MIN_PRIORITY, "Priority " +
+                    "out of range");
             op = Operation.ADD;
             return new DefaultForwardingObjective(this);
         }
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/flowobjective/Objective.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/flowobjective/Objective.java
index c675231739..ddbbe2f96f 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/flowobjective/Objective.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/flowobjective/Objective.java
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ public interface Objective {
     boolean DEFAULT_PERMANENT = true;
     int DEFAULT_TIMEOUT = 0;
     int DEFAULT_PRIORITY = 32768;
+    int MIN_PRIORITY = 0;
+    int MAX_PRIORITY = 65535;
 
     /**
      * Type of operation.