A network device includes a transmit buffer from which data is transmitted to a network, and a packet buffer from which data chunks are transmitted to the transmit buffer in response to read requests. The packet buffer has a maximum read latency from receipt of a read request to transmission of a responsive data chunk, and receives read requests including a read request for a first data chunk of a network packet and a plurality of additional read requests for additional data chunks of the network packet. A latency timer monitors elapsed time from receipt of the first read request, and outputs a latency signal when the elapsed time reaches the first maximum read latency. Transmission logic waits until the elapsed time equals the first maximum read latency, and then transmits the first data chunk from the transmit buffer, without regard to a fill level of the transmit buffer.