diff --git a/dragonflow/controller/df_base_app.py b/dragonflow/controller/df_base_app.py
index 8d4b4612a..3de442a91 100644
--- a/dragonflow/controller/df_base_app.py
+++ b/dragonflow/controller/df_base_app.py
@@ -98,17 +98,16 @@ class DFlowApp(df_db_notifier.DBNotifyInterface):
 
         datapath.send_msg(message)
 
-    def _send_packet(self, datapath, port, pkt):
+    def send_packet(self, port, pkt):
+        datapath = self.get_datapath()
         ofproto = datapath.ofproto
         parser = datapath.ofproto_parser
-        pkt.serialize()
-        data = pkt.data
         actions = [parser.OFPActionOutput(port=port)]
         out = parser.OFPPacketOut(datapath=datapath,
                                   buffer_id=ofproto.OFP_NO_BUFFER,
                                   in_port=ofproto.OFPP_CONTROLLER,
                                   actions=actions,
-                                  data=data)
+                                  data=pkt)
         datapath.send_msg(out)
 
     def send_arp_request(self, src_mac, src_ip, dst_ip, port):
@@ -121,6 +120,5 @@ class DFlowApp(df_db_notifier.DBNotifyInterface):
                                     src_mac=src_mac,
                                     src_ip=src_ip,
                                     dst_ip=dst_ip))
-        arp_request_pkt.serialize()
 
-        self._send_packet(self.get_datapath(), port, arp_request_pkt)
+        self.send_packet(port, arp_request_pkt)
diff --git a/dragonflow/controller/dhcp_app.py b/dragonflow/controller/dhcp_app.py
index 3618b52b1..20db7b248 100644
--- a/dragonflow/controller/dhcp_app.py
+++ b/dragonflow/controller/dhcp_app.py
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ class DHCPApp(df_base_app.DFlowApp):
             LOG.error(_LE("DHCP message type %d not handled"),
                 dhcp_message_type)
         if send_packet:
-            self._send_packet(self.get_datapath(), ofport, send_packet)
+            self.send_packet(ofport, send_packet)
 
     def _create_dhcp_packet(self, packet, dhcp_packet, pkt_type, lport):
         pkt_ipv4 = packet.get_protocol(ipv4.ipv4)
diff --git a/dragonflow/controller/l3_app.py b/dragonflow/controller/l3_app.py
index 256ac7941..f8f335f50 100644
--- a/dragonflow/controller/l3_app.py
+++ b/dragonflow/controller/l3_app.py
@@ -147,9 +147,7 @@ class L3App(df_base_app.DFlowApp):
             echo.data = bytearray(echo.data)
             icmp_pkt.add_protocol(icmp.icmp(icmp.ICMP_ECHO_REPLY, data=echo))
 
-        self._send_packet(self.get_datapath(),
-                          msg.match.get('in_port'),
-                          icmp_pkt)
+        self.send_packet(msg.match.get('in_port'), icmp_pkt)
         icmp_responder.ICMPResponder(
             self, dst_ip, dst_mac,
             table_id=const.L3_LOOKUP_TABLE).add(