A method is provided in one example embodiment that includes transmitting a message from a first port to a second port, recording a timestamp of the message at each clock between the first port and the second port, and transmitting a first follow-up message from a first port to a second port to collect timestamps at each clock between the first port and the second port. The method further includes transmitting a loopback message from the second port to the first port, recording timestamps of the loopback message at each clock between the second port and the first port, and transmitting a second follow-up message from the second port to the first port to collect and append the timestamps of the loopback message at each clock.