A plurality of SYN packets is sent from a first system, each of the plurality of SYN packets traverses a different path in a first set of paths between the first system and a second system in a multipath data communication network and includes a unique source identifier. From a plurality of SYN-ACK packets, a SYN-ACK packet is selected that is first to arrive at the first system. Each SYN-ACK packet includes a unique source identifier of a selected SYN packet. A path is configured corresponding to the selected SYN packet, as an outbound path from the first system. A path corresponding to the selected SYN-ACK packet is configured as an inbound path to the first system. A session between the first and the second systems is established using the outbound and inbound paths.