The protection of multi-segment pseudowires by utilizing pre-computed backup paths is disclosed herein. Disclosed embodiments include methods that establish at least one backup path for multi-segment pseudowires, the establishing being performed prior to detection of failure in the primary path. Upon detecting a path failure, the detected failure is signaled to the head-end, a pre-computed backup path is chosen, and the chosen backup path is signaled to the tail-end. In other disclosed embodiments, apparatus are configured to establish, prior to detection of failure in the primary path, at least one backup path for the multi-segment pseudowire. Networks can be configured to signal a detected failure to the head-end; choose a pre-computed backup path; and signal the backup path to the tail-end.