An approach is provided for establishing label switch paths associated with a new routing node of a label switch network. A new routing node is determined to be activated within a label switch network. Label pair generation logic is employed to generate a path set-up message to establish a pair of label switch paths between the new routing node and an activated routing node of the label switch network. Another path set-up message is repeatedly generated for each of a plurality of activated routing nodes within the label switch network to establish pairs of label switch paths.