One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method macro expander (MME) coupled to a driver and the processing pipeline of a graphics processing unit. In operation, the MME receives, from the driver, a first packet of work indicating a macro stored in an instruction memory that is to be executed. The MME then executes the commands of the macro in the instruction memory to generate a second packet of work, and the second packet of work is then transmitted to the processing pipeline for further execution.