Method and apparatus to efficiently detect violations of data dependency relationships. A memory address associated with a computer instruction may be obtained. A current state of the memory address may be identified. The current state may include whether the memory address is associated with a read or a store instruction, and whether the memory address is associated with a set or a check. A previously accumulated state associated with the memory address may be retrieved from a data structure. The previously accumulated state may include whether the memory address was previously associated with a read or a store instruction, and whether the memory address was previously associated with a set or a check. If a transition from the previously accumulated state to the current state is invalid, a failure condition may be signaled.