Embodiments provide techniques for synchronizing forwarding tables across forwarding pipelines. One embodiment includes receiving, in a network switch comprising a plurality of forwarding pipelines, a plurality of data packets. Each of the plurality of data packets corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of forwarding pipelines. Each of the plurality of forwarding pipelines maintains a respective forwarding table corresponding to a respective plurality of ports managed by the forwarding pipeline. A plurality of update operations to be performed on the forwarding tables are determined, based on the received plurality of data packets. Embodiments further include performing the plurality of update operations on the forwarding tables, such that the forwarding tables across all forwarding pipelines of the plurality of forwarding pipelines are synchronized.