In one embodiment, a repair label switched path (LSP) is established for a primary LSP having a head-end node. The repair LSP extends from a neighboring upstream node of the head-end node to a downstream neighboring node of the head-end node. When a failure of the head-end node is detected, the neighboring upstream node reroutes traffic onto the repair LSP. The rerouted traffic rejoins the primary LSP at the downstream neighboring node. The neighboring upstream node refreshes state of the primary LSP to maintain the primary LSP after failure of the head-end node.