diff --git a/net/tipc/discover.c b/net/tipc/discover.c
index a00e5f8..7ae1b4c 100644
--- a/net/tipc/discover.c
+++ b/net/tipc/discover.c
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@
 		msg = buf_msg(buf);
 		tipc_msg_init(msg, LINK_CONFIG, type, INT_H_SIZE, dest_domain);
 		msg_set_non_seq(msg, 1);
+		msg_set_node_sig(msg, tipc_random);
 		msg_set_dest_domain(msg, dest_domain);
 		msg_set_bc_netid(msg, tipc_net_id);
 		b_ptr->media->addr2msg(&b_ptr->addr, msg_media_addr(msg));
@@ -128,6 +129,7 @@
 	u32 orig = msg_prevnode(msg);
 	u32 net_id = msg_bc_netid(msg);
 	u32 type = msg_type(msg);
+	u32 signature = msg_node_sig(msg);
 	int link_fully_up;
 
 	media_addr.broadcast = 1;
@@ -197,6 +199,7 @@
 	}
 
 	/* Accept discovery message & send response, if necessary */
+	n_ptr->signature = signature;
 	link_fully_up = link_working_working(link);
 
 	if ((type == DSC_REQ_MSG) && !link_fully_up && !b_ptr->blocked) {
diff --git a/net/tipc/msg.h b/net/tipc/msg.h
index 7b0cda1..2ec13b7 100644
--- a/net/tipc/msg.h
+++ b/net/tipc/msg.h
@@ -517,6 +517,16 @@
 	msg_set_bits(m, 1, 16, 0x1fff, n);
 }
 
+static inline u32 msg_node_sig(struct tipc_msg *m)
+{
+	return msg_bits(m, 1, 0, 0xffff);
+}
+
+static inline void msg_set_node_sig(struct tipc_msg *m, u32 n)
+{
+	msg_set_bits(m, 1, 0, 0xffff, n);
+}
+
 
 /*
  * Word 2
diff --git a/net/tipc/node.c b/net/tipc/node.c
index 7bc45e1..1534259 100644
--- a/net/tipc/node.c
+++ b/net/tipc/node.c
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@
 	}
 	list_add_tail(&n_ptr->list, &temp_node->list);
 	n_ptr->block_setup = WAIT_PEER_DOWN;
+	n_ptr->signature = INVALID_NODE_SIG;
 
 	tipc_num_nodes++;
 
diff --git a/net/tipc/node.h b/net/tipc/node.h
index e1b78a2..7bf526a 100644
--- a/net/tipc/node.h
+++ b/net/tipc/node.h
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@
 #include "net.h"
 #include "bearer.h"
 
+/*
+ * Out-of-range value for node signature
+ */
+#define INVALID_NODE_SIG 0x10000
+
 /* Flags used to block (re)establishment of contact with a neighboring node */
 
 #define WAIT_PEER_DOWN	0x0001	/* wait to see that peer's links are down */
@@ -61,6 +66,7 @@
  * @block_setup: bit mask of conditions preventing link establishment to node
  * @link_cnt: number of links to node
  * @permit_changeover: non-zero if node has redundant links to this system
+ * @signature: node instance identifier
  * @bclink: broadcast-related info
  *    @supportable: non-zero if node supports TIPC b'cast link capability
  *    @supported: non-zero if node supports TIPC b'cast capability
@@ -86,6 +92,7 @@
 	int working_links;
 	int block_setup;
 	int permit_changeover;
+	u32 signature;
 	struct {
 		u8 supportable;
 		u8 supported;