diff --git a/node/node_handler.go b/node/node_handler.go
index d1fde694f..674c12692 100644
--- a/node/node_handler.go
+++ b/node/node_handler.go
@@ -388,9 +388,10 @@ func (node *Node) pingMessageHandler(msgPayload []byte, sender string) int {
 		return 0
 	}
 
-	// Add to Node's peer list anyway
-	utils.GetLogInstance().Info("Add Peer to Node", "Node", node.Consensus.GetNodeID(), "Pear", peer)
-	node.AddPeers([]*p2p.Peer{peer})
+	if node.NodeConfig.IsLeader() {
+		utils.GetLogInstance().Info("Add Peer to Node", "Node", node.Consensus.GetNodeID(), "Pear", peer)
+		node.AddPeers([]*p2p.Peer{peer})
+	}
 
 	return 1
 }