A request to add or remove a leaf node to a multicast group in a Point-to-Multipoint Label Switched Path is detected, and the leaf node can select a pre-configured tunnel in accordance with the requested multicast group. The leaf node encapsulates the received request and transmits it through the selected pre-configured tunnel. A root node for the multicast group receives the request through the tunnel and can identify the leaf node responsible for transmitting the message by the tunnel header. The root can determine if a Point-to-Multipoint Label Switched Path exists for the request multicast group and can update the membership of the multicast group by adding or removing the leaf node to the multicast group.