The present invention provides for a method for operating an electromagnetic flowmeter capable of being mounted on to a surface of a flow pipe for measuring a flow of fluid flowing in the flow pipe. The method comprising: exciting the coil to have electromagnetic interaction with the fluid in the flow pipe resulting in leakage current; providing a current to compensate for the resulting leakage current in the flow pipe by applying a potential difference to electrodes that are attached to a housing of the electromagnetic flowmeter and in contact with the flow pipe; detecting a condition wherein the resulting current flowing is within a threshold range; and determining a measure of flow in the flow pipe based on a value of the applied potential difference.