In one embodiment, a controller for an associative memory having n ways contains circuitry for sending a request to search an indexed location in each of the n ways for a tag, wherein the tag and an index that is used to denote the indexed location form a memory address. The controller also contains circuitry, responsive to the request, for sending a set of n validity values, each validity value indicating, for a respective way, whether the indexed location is a valid location or a defective location. Additionally, the controller contains circuitry for receiving a hit signal that indicates whether a match to the tag was found at any of the indexed locations, wherein no hit is ever received for a defective location.