Methods for handling packets received at a network device are described. The packets are placed into a queue that contains packets of a first type and packets of a second type. The packets of the first type include protocol packets, and the packets of the second type include packets other than protocol packets. A first count is incremented when the queue is full. A packet of the second type is forwarded for processing provided that the first count satisfies a condition; otherwise, the packet of the second type is discarded.