Example embodiments relate to providing efficient routing in software defined networks. In example embodiments, an indirect group table includes a first group entry that is associated with a first route tree in a software defined network. A failure is detected in the first route tree during a data transmission, and a notification of the failure is sent to a remote controller device, where the remote controller device identifies a second route tree that does not include the failure. After the remote controller device updates the first group entry to be associated with the second route tree, the data transmission is performed using the second route tree.