Data messages having different priorities may be stored in different communication buffers of a network node. The data messages may then be forwarded from the communication buffers to working buffersas space becomes available in the working buffers. After being forwarded to the working buffers, the data messages may be available to be processed by upper-layer operations of the network node. Priorities may be assigned to the data messages based on a priority level of a query associated with the data messages, a priority level of an upper-layer operation assigned to process the data messages, or combinations thereof.