diff --git a/applications/iiit/VolttronBridge/volttronbridge/agent.py b/applications/iiit/VolttronBridge/volttronbridge/agent.py
index c073f0b57c..3de8d27e98 100644
--- a/applications/iiit/VolttronBridge/volttronbridge/agent.py
+++ b/applications/iiit/VolttronBridge/volttronbridge/agent.py
@@ -303,9 +303,7 @@ def onNewEnergyDemand(self, peer, sender, bus,  topic, headers, message):
             
             #check for upstream connection, if not retry once
             _log.debug('check us connection...')
-            #ping us to confirm
-            ping_success = self.do_rpc(url_root, 'rpc_ping')
-            if ping_success and not self._usConnected:
+            if not self._usConnected:
                 _log.debug('not connected, Trying to register once...')
                 self._usConnected = self._registerToUsBridge(url_root,\
                                                                 self._discovery_address,\