A first network device detects a link down event associated with a second network device, where the link down event is detected by the first network device prior to being detected by a third network device, and the second network device is a designated network device of a network. The first network device starts a delay timer before processing the link down event, and detects an event that includes at least one of receipt, from the third network device, of a link state advertisement message based on the link down event, or an expiration of the delay timer. The first network device determines the first network device to be a new designated network device for the network based on detecting the event, and provides, to the third network device, information indicating that the first network device is the new designated network device for the network.