A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes communicating initial digits associated with an original request for a call and receiving a message indicating an incomplete address for the original request. The method also includes responding to the message by appending additional digits to the original request to generate a new request. The additional digits are buffered before receiving the message indicating the incomplete address associated with the original request. In other embodiments, the original request is a session initiation protocol (SIP) INVITE message that includes a uniform resource identifier (URI), which reflects an address for reaching a destination user. The initial digits can be partially matched against a dial plan in order to trigger the message associated with the original request. The additional digits are configured to satisfy the message and to connect the call. The message associated with the original request can be a session initiation protocol (SIP) 484 message.