diff --git a/azurelinuxagent/common/protocol/hostplugin.py b/azurelinuxagent/common/protocol/hostplugin.py
index f4ece29..a1b2916 100644
--- a/azurelinuxagent/common/protocol/hostplugin.py
+++ b/azurelinuxagent/common/protocol/hostplugin.py
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ MAXIMUM_PAGEBLOB_PAGE_SIZE = 4 * 1024 * 1024  # Max page size: 4MB
 
 
 class HostPluginProtocol(object):
+    _is_default_channel = True
+
     def __init__(self, endpoint, container_id, role_config_name):
         if endpoint is None:
             raise ProtocolError("HostGAPlugin: Endpoint not provided")
@@ -274,3 +276,11 @@ class HostPluginProtocol(object):
             response.status,
             response.reason,
             body)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def is_default_channel(cls):
+        return cls._is_default_channel
+
+    @classmethod
+    def set_default_channel(cls, is_default):
+        cls._is_default_channel = is_default