A method and system for automatic redirection of control channel messages in response to a control channel failure with a target switch in a software defined networking (SDN) network, the automatic redirection occurring before a topology of the SDN network is updated in response to the control channel failure. The method includes determining whether a control channel message is to be sent to an SDN controller, checking availability of the control channel, selecting a backup port to reach the SDN controller in response to the control channel being unavailable, and forwarding the control channel message to the SDN controller via the backup port.