Techniques for minimizing packet loss of multicast traffic stream when a failure occurs are described herein. In one embodiment of the invention, a network element separately joins a multicast group through a first and second path respectively. During uninterrupted operation, the network element processes the packets of the multicast traffic stream it receives through the first path and drops the packets of the equivalent multicast traffic stream it receives through the second path. Upon an interruption of the packets of the multicast traffic stream being received through the first path, the network element transitions to processing the packets of the equivalent multicast traffic stream it receives through the second path. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.