An approach is provided in which in which a data stream encoder resynchronizes a reference template to a data stream by loading a lock step buffer and a look-ahead buffer with template data blocks retrieved from the reference template. The data stream encoder determines that the lock step buffer's template data is different from a data stream data block and, in turn, preserves the template data block in the look-ahead buffer for subsequent resynchronization. In turn, the data stream encoder matches the look-ahead buffer's preserved template data with a subsequent data stream data block and resynchronizes the reference template to the data stream accordingly.