diff --git a/src/python/loxi/of11/instruction.py b/src/python/loxi/of11/instruction.py
index 2f7f1bf..38bcdb6 100644
--- a/src/python/loxi/of11/instruction.py
+++ b/src/python/loxi/of11/instruction.py
@@ -306,6 +306,18 @@
         q.text('}')
 
 
+def parse_experimenter(reader):
+    experimenter, = reader.peek("!4xL")
+    if experimenter == 0x005c16c7: # Big Switch Networks
+        subtype, = reader.peek("!8xL")
+    else:
+        raise loxi.ProtocolError("unexpected experimenter id %#x" % experimenter)
+
+    if subtype in experimenter_parsers[experimenter]:
+        return experimenter_parsers[experimenter][subtype](reader)
+    else:
+        raise loxi.ProtocolError("unexpected experimenter id %#x subtype %#x" % (experimenter, subtype))
+
 parsers = {
     const.OFPIT_GOTO_TABLE : goto_table.unpack,
     const.OFPIT_WRITE_METADATA : write_metadata.unpack,
@@ -313,3 +325,6 @@
     const.OFPIT_APPLY_ACTIONS : apply_actions.unpack,
     const.OFPIT_CLEAR_ACTIONS : clear_actions.unpack,
 }
+
+experimenter_parsers = {
+}