A method and system for resynchronizing a control layer and a line layer by tracing the data path through the line layer and, at the control layer, reclaiming ownership of disowned connections corresponding to the traced data path. Beginning at a head-end controller, the data path is traced by identifying the next controller along the data path and sending a set-up message containing the local state information necessary for a second controller to identify the connection within its associated network element that is associated with the data path. The second controller receives the set-up message and claims ownership of its portion of the data path. It then identifies the next leg or hop in the data path, modifies the set-up message to add data regarding the next hop, and sends the modified set-up message to the next controller along the data path. The process is repeated so as to dynamically establish a control connection corresponding to and synchronized with the existing data path.