In described examples, ownership of a network protocol-based session is distributed across multiple entities. A session is established between a remote entity and a first processing node on a local device, such that the first processing node is the session owner of the session on the local device. During the session, ownership of the session is transferred from the first processing node to a second processing node on the local device, such that the second processing node becomes the session owner of the session on the local device. The session is then operated between the remote entity and the second processing node as the session owner.