One embodiment includes receiving a notification at a communications network node; determining a lowest cost path for implementing a next hop for the notification; determining a best alternate path for the next hop; comparing a cost of the best alternate path with a value stored in a notification header field; updating the header field value to equal the cost of the best alternate path if the cost of the best alternate path is less than the header field value; and forwarding the notification along the lowest cost path. Some embodiments include receiving a NACK at the node; comparing a cost of the best alternate path with a NACK header field value; and retransmitting the notification along the best alternate path if the NACK header field value is greater than or equal to the cost of the best alternate path.