Techniques are disclosed for processing flows by a smart network interface card (smartNIC) based on modifying a packet. In one example, a smartNIC accelerator receives a packet from a first port of the smartNIC, the first port being connected to a splitter device that splits a first data path into a second data path and a third data path, and the packet arriving at the first port via the second data path. The accelerator modifies the packet to indicate that the packet arrived at the first port via the second data path. The accelerator inserts the modified packet into a queue that is associated with both the second data path and the third data path. A programming data plane of the smartNIC receives and then processes the modified packet based on determining that the packet arrived at the first port via the second data path.