diff --git a/src/route/fib.cpp b/src/route/fib.cpp
index 1815b27..16ed8a8 100644
--- a/src/route/fib.cpp
+++ b/src/route/fib.cpp
@@ -294,12 +294,7 @@
                 const CommandSucceedCallback& onSuccess,
                 const CommandFailCallback& onFailure)
 {
-  ndn::nfd::ControlParameters faceParameters;
-  faceParameters
-    .setUri(faceUri);
-  m_controller.start<ndn::nfd::FaceCreateCommand>(faceParameters,
-                                                  onSuccess,
-                                                  onFailure);
+  m_faceController.createFace(faceUri, onSuccess, onFailure);
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/src/route/fib.hpp b/src/route/fib.hpp
index e49727b..d1737d2 100644
--- a/src/route/fib.hpp
+++ b/src/route/fib.hpp
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "face-map.hpp"
 #include "fib-entry.hpp"
 #include "test-access-control.hpp"
+#include "utility/face-controller.hpp"
 
 namespace nlsr {
 
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@
     , m_table()
     , m_refreshTime(0)
     , m_controller(face)
+    , m_faceController(face.getIoService(), m_controller)
     , m_faceMap()
     , m_adjacencyList(adjacencyList)
     , m_confParameter(conf)
@@ -186,6 +188,7 @@
   std::list<FibEntry> m_table;
   int32_t m_refreshTime;
   ndn::nfd::Controller m_controller;
+  util::FaceController m_faceController;
 
 PUBLIC_WITH_TESTS_ELSE_PRIVATE:
   FaceMap m_faceMap;
diff --git a/src/utility/face-controller.cpp b/src/utility/face-controller.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a0c615f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utility/face-controller.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+/* -*- Mode:C++; c-file-style:"gnu"; indent-tabs-mode:nil; -*- */
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2014  University of Memphis,
+ *                     Regents of the University of California
+ *
+ * This file is part of NLSR (Named-data Link State Routing).
+ * See AUTHORS.md for complete list of NLSR authors and contributors.
+ *
+ * NLSR is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms
+ * of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation,
+ * either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * NLSR is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY;
+ * without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
+ * PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with
+ * NLSR, e.g., in COPYING.md file.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ *
+ **/
+
+#include "face-controller.hpp"
+#include "logger.hpp"
+
+namespace nlsr {
+namespace util {
+
+INIT_LOGGER("FaceController");
+
+using ndn::util::FaceUri;
+
+const ndn::time::seconds FaceController::TIME_ALLOWED_FOR_CANONIZATION = ndn::time::seconds(4);
+
+void
+FaceController::createFace(const std::string& request,
+                           const CommandSuccessCallback& onSuccess,
+                           const CommandFailureCallback& onFailure)
+{
+  FaceUri uri(request);
+
+  _LOG_TRACE("Converting " << uri << " to canonical form");
+  uri.canonize(bind(&FaceController::onCanonizeSuccess, this, _1, onSuccess, onFailure, uri),
+               bind(&FaceController::onCanonizeFailure, this, _1, onSuccess, onFailure, uri),
+               m_ioService, TIME_ALLOWED_FOR_CANONIZATION);
+}
+
+void
+FaceController::createFaceInNfd(const FaceUri& uri,
+                                const CommandSuccessCallback& onSuccess,
+                                const CommandFailureCallback& onFailure)
+{
+  ndn::nfd::ControlParameters faceParameters;
+  faceParameters.setUri(uri.toString());
+
+  _LOG_DEBUG("Creating Face in NFD with face-uri: " << uri);
+  m_controller.start<ndn::nfd::FaceCreateCommand>(faceParameters, onSuccess, onFailure);
+}
+
+void
+FaceController::onCanonizeSuccess(const FaceUri& uri,
+                                  const CommandSuccessCallback& onSuccess,
+                                  const CommandFailureCallback& onFailure,
+                                  const FaceUri& request)
+{
+  _LOG_DEBUG("Converted " << request << " to canonical form: " << uri);
+
+  createFaceInNfd(uri, onSuccess, onFailure);
+}
+
+void
+FaceController::onCanonizeFailure(const std::string& reason,
+                                  const CommandSuccessCallback& onSuccess,
+                                  const CommandFailureCallback& onFailure,
+                                  const FaceUri& request)
+{
+  _LOG_WARN("Could not convert " << request << " to canonical form: " << reason);
+  onFailure(CANONIZE_ERROR_CODE, "Could not canonize face-uri: " + request.toString());
+}
+
+} // namespace util
+} // namespace nlsr
diff --git a/src/utility/face-controller.hpp b/src/utility/face-controller.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3c42afe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utility/face-controller.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+/* -*- Mode:C++; c-file-style:"gnu"; indent-tabs-mode:nil; -*- */
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2014  University of Memphis,
+ *                     Regents of the University of California
+ *
+ * This file is part of NLSR (Named-data Link State Routing).
+ * See AUTHORS.md for complete list of NLSR authors and contributors.
+ *
+ * NLSR is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms
+ * of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation,
+ * either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * NLSR is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY;
+ * without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
+ * PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with
+ * NLSR, e.g., in COPYING.md file.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ *
+ **/
+
+#ifndef NLSR_UTIL_FACE_CONTROLLER_HPP
+#define NLSR_UTIL_FACE_CONTROLLER_HPP
+
+#include <ndn-cxx/util/face-uri.hpp>
+#include <ndn-cxx/management/nfd-controller.hpp>
+
+namespace nlsr {
+namespace util {
+
+class FaceController : boost::noncopyable
+{
+public:
+  typedef ndn::function<void(const ndn::nfd::ControlParameters&)> CommandSuccessCallback;
+  typedef ndn::function<void(uint32_t,const std::string&)> CommandFailureCallback;
+
+  FaceController(boost::asio::io_service& io, ndn::nfd::Controller& controller)
+    : m_ioService(io)
+    , m_controller(controller)
+  {
+  }
+
+  void
+  createFace(const std::string& request,
+             const CommandSuccessCallback& onSuccess,
+             const CommandFailureCallback& onFailure);
+
+private:
+  void
+  createFaceInNfd(const ndn::util::FaceUri& uri,
+                  const CommandSuccessCallback& onSuccess,
+                  const CommandFailureCallback& onFailure);
+
+  void
+  onCanonizeSuccess(const ndn::util::FaceUri& uri,
+                    const CommandSuccessCallback& onSuccess,
+                    const CommandFailureCallback& onFailure,
+                    const ndn::util::FaceUri& request);
+
+  void
+  onCanonizeFailure(const std::string& reason,
+                    const CommandSuccessCallback& onSuccess,
+                    const CommandFailureCallback& onFailure,
+                    const ndn::util::FaceUri& request);
+
+private:
+  boost::asio::io_service& m_ioService;
+  ndn::nfd::Controller& m_controller;
+
+  static const uint32_t CANONIZE_ERROR_CODE = 408;
+  static const ndn::time::seconds TIME_ALLOWED_FOR_CANONIZATION;
+};
+
+} // namespace util
+} // namespace nlsr
+
+#endif // NLSR_UTIL_FACE_CONTROLLER_HPP
diff --git a/tests/control-commands.hpp b/tests/control-commands.hpp
index e84deea..17100db 100644
--- a/tests/control-commands.hpp
+++ b/tests/control-commands.hpp
@@ -50,6 +50,13 @@
   extractParameters(interest, verb, extractedParameters, ndn::Name("/localhost/nfd/rib"));
 }
 
+inline void
+extractFaceCommandParameters(const ndn::Interest& interest, ndn::Name::Component& verb,
+                             ndn::nfd::ControlParameters& extractedParameters)
+{
+  extractParameters(interest, verb, extractedParameters, ndn::Name("/localhost/nfd/faces"));
+}
+
 } // namespace test
 } // namespace nlsr
 
diff --git a/tests/utility/test-face-controller.cpp b/tests/utility/test-face-controller.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d242ee7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/utility/test-face-controller.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+/* -*- Mode:C++; c-file-style:"gnu"; indent-tabs-mode:nil; -*- */
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2014  University of Memphis,
+ *                     Regents of the University of California
+ *
+ * This file is part of NLSR (Named-data Link State Routing).
+ * See AUTHORS.md for complete list of NLSR authors and contributors.
+ *
+ * NLSR is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms
+ * of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation,
+ * either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * NLSR is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY;
+ * without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
+ * PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with
+ * NLSR, e.g., in COPYING.md file.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ *
+ **/
+
+#include "tests/test-common.hpp"
+#include "tests/control-commands.hpp"
+#include "tests/dummy-face.hpp"
+
+#include "utility/face-controller.hpp"
+
+#include <ndn-cxx/management/nfd-controller.hpp>
+
+namespace nlsr {
+namespace test {
+
+using ndn::bind;
+using ndn::shared_ptr;
+using ndn::Interest;
+
+class FaceControllerFixture : public BaseFixture
+{
+public:
+  FaceControllerFixture()
+    : face(ndn::makeDummyFace())
+    , interests(face->m_sentInterests)
+    , controller(ndn::ref(*face))
+    , faceManager(g_ioService, controller)
+  {
+  }
+
+  void
+  expectCanonizeSuccess(const std::string& request, const std::string expectedUri)
+  {
+    faceManager.createFace(request, 0, bind(&FaceControllerFixture::onFailure, this, _1, _2));
+    expectedUris.push_back(expectedUri);
+  }
+
+  void
+  expectCanonizeFailure(const std::string& request)
+  {
+    faceManager.createFace(request, 0, bind(&FaceControllerFixture::onFailure, this, _1, _2));
+  }
+
+  void
+  onFailure(uint32_t code, const std::string& reason)
+  {
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(code, 408);
+  }
+
+public:
+  shared_ptr<ndn::DummyFace> face;
+  std::vector<Interest>& interests;
+  ndn::nfd::Controller controller;
+  util::FaceController faceManager;
+
+  std::list<std::string> expectedUris;
+};
+
+BOOST_FIXTURE_TEST_SUITE(TestFaceController, FaceControllerFixture)
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(FaceCreateCanonize)
+{
+  expectCanonizeSuccess("udp4://192.0.2.1:6363", "udp4://192.0.2.1:6363");
+  expectCanonizeSuccess("tcp4://192.0.2.1:6363", "tcp4://192.0.2.1:6363");
+
+  expectCanonizeSuccess("udp://192.0.2.1", "udp4://192.0.2.1:6363");
+  expectCanonizeSuccess("udp://203.0.113.1:6363", "udp4://203.0.113.1:6363");
+  expectCanonizeSuccess("udp4://google-public-dns-a.google.com", "udp4://8.8.8.8:6363");
+
+  expectCanonizeSuccess("tcp://192.0.2.1", "tcp4://192.0.2.1:6363");
+  expectCanonizeSuccess("tcp://203.0.113.1:6363", "tcp4://203.0.113.1:6363");
+  expectCanonizeSuccess("tcp4://google-public-dns-a.google.com", "tcp4://8.8.8.8:6363");
+
+  expectCanonizeSuccess("udp6://[2001:4860:4860::8888]:6363", "udp6://[2001:4860:4860::8888]:6363");
+  expectCanonizeSuccess("tcp6://[2001:4860:4860::8888]:6363", "tcp6://[2001:4860:4860::8888]:6363");
+
+  expectCanonizeSuccess("udp://[2001:4860:4860::8888]", "udp6://[2001:4860:4860::8888]:6363");
+  expectCanonizeSuccess("udp://[2001:4860:4860::8888]:6363", "udp6://[2001:4860:4860::8888]:6363");
+  expectCanonizeSuccess("udp6://google-public-dns-a.google.com",
+                        "udp6://[2001:4860:4860::8888]:6363");
+
+  expectCanonizeSuccess("tcp://[2001:4860:4860::8888]", "tcp6://[2001:4860:4860::8888]:6363");
+  expectCanonizeSuccess("tcp://[2001:4860:4860::8888]:6363", "tcp6://[2001:4860:4860::8888]:6363");
+  expectCanonizeSuccess("tcp6://google-public-dns-a.google.com",
+                        "tcp6://[2001:4860:4860::8888]:6363");
+
+  g_ioService.run();
+  face->processEvents(ndn::time::milliseconds(1));
+
+  BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(interests.size(), expectedUris.size());
+
+  for (std::vector<ndn::Interest>::iterator it = interests.begin(); it != interests.end(); ++it) {
+
+    ndn::nfd::ControlParameters extractedParameters;
+    ndn::Name::Component verb;
+
+    extractFaceCommandParameters(*it, verb, extractedParameters);
+
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(verb, ndn::Name::Component("create"));
+
+    std::list<std::string>::iterator uri = std::find(expectedUris.begin(),
+                                                     expectedUris.end(),
+                                                     extractedParameters.getUri());
+
+    BOOST_REQUIRE(uri != expectedUris.end());
+    expectedUris.erase(uri);
+  }
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(FaceCreateFailure)
+{
+  expectCanonizeFailure("udp4://not-a-valid.uri");
+  expectCanonizeFailure("udp4://256.0.0.1:6363");
+
+  g_ioService.run();
+  face->processEvents(ndn::time::milliseconds(1));
+
+  BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(interests.size(), 0);
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE_END()
+
+} //namespace test
+} //namespace nlsr
diff --git a/tests/wscript b/tests/wscript
index 3ac955e..63bcafa 100644
--- a/tests/wscript
+++ b/tests/wscript
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
             target='unit-tests-main',
             name='unit-tests-main',
             features='cxx',
-            source=bld.path.ant_glob(['*.cpp']),
+            source=bld.path.ant_glob(['*.cpp', 'utility/*.cpp']),
             use='nlsr-objects',
           )