A device forwards in a network, a session setup request from an originating user device toward a destination user device and intercepts a too many hops error message from a network element to the originating user device. The device also automatically sends, in response to the error message, a search request message to determine a correct number of hops from the originating user device to the destination user device and resets a Max-Forwards value for the session setup request based on the determined correct number of hops. The session setup request with the determined correct number of hops may be resent on behalf of the originating device without the too may hops error ever reaching the originating device.