A technique incorporates an efficient means for avoiding micro-loops on a backup path associated with a failed protected link. An intermediate node delays updating a forwarding database (FDB) contained in the intermediate node based on the intermediate node's distance from the failed link. Specifically, intermediate nodes near the failed protected link delay updating their FDBs for a longer period of time than nodes farther away from the failed link. By updating FDBs in this manner, micro-loops may be avoided on the failed link's backup path as nodes on the backup path that are close to the failed link do not update their FDBs ahead of nodes farther away on the backup path.