One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for correctly processing an interest in a content-centric network (CCN). During operation, a first node in the CCN receives an interest for a piece of content from a second node. The interest indicates a name of the piece of content and a hop count from the second node to a destination node advertising the piece of content. The system determines, based on forwarding information and information associated with pending interests stored on the first node, whether a distance-based forwarding condition is met; and in response to the distance-based forwarding condition being met, accepts the interest.