A method for propagating reference and modification bit values into a translation table. The method includes issuing a write instruction including a virtual address, translating the virtual address to a corresponding physical address in a corresponding entry in a TLB, writing data to the corresponding physical address, setting at least one of a reference bit value or a modification bit value in the corresponding entry in the TLB, analyzing the TLB to identify any set reference bit values and set modification bit values, updating a corresponding entry in a translation table for each one of the identified set reference bit values and the identified set modification bit values and resetting the identified set reference bit values and the identified set modification bit values in the TLB.