Techniques are disclosed relating to merging virtual communication channels in a portion of a computing system. In some embodiments, a communication fabric routes first and second classes of traffic with different quality-of-service parameters, using a first virtual channel for the first class and a second virtual channel for the second class. In some embodiments, a memory controller communicates, via the fabric, using a merged virtual channel configured to handle traffic from both the first virtual channel and the second virtual channel. In some embodiments, the system limits the rate at which an agent is allowed to transmit requests of the second class of traffic, but requests by the agent for the first class of traffic are not rate limited. Disclosed techniques may improve independence of virtual channels, relative to sharing the same channel in an entire system, without unduly increasing complexity.