diff --git a/zebra/rib.h b/zebra/rib.h
index 931c97638e..3717a12814 100644
--- a/zebra/rib.h
+++ b/zebra/rib.h
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ struct route_entry {
 	/* Uptime. */
 	time_t uptime;
 
-	/* Type fo this route. */
+	/* Type of this route. */
 	int type;
 
 	/* VRF identifier. */
@@ -347,10 +347,16 @@ extern int rib_add(afi_t afi, safi_t safi, vrf_id_t vrf_id, int type,
 		   struct prefix_ipv6 *src_p, const struct nexthop *nh,
 		   uint32_t nhe_id, uint32_t table_id, uint32_t metric,
 		   uint32_t mtu, uint8_t distance, route_tag_t tag);
-
+/*
+ * Multipath route apis.
+ */
 extern int rib_add_multipath(afi_t afi, safi_t safi, struct prefix *p,
 			     struct prefix_ipv6 *src_p, struct route_entry *re,
 			     struct nexthop_group *ng);
+extern int rib_add_multipath_nhe(afi_t afi, safi_t safi, struct prefix *p,
+				 struct prefix_ipv6 *src_p,
+				 struct route_entry *re,
+				 struct nhg_hash_entry *nhe);
 
 extern void rib_delete(afi_t afi, safi_t safi, vrf_id_t vrf_id, int type,
 		       unsigned short instance, int flags, struct prefix *p,
diff --git a/zebra/zapi_msg.c b/zebra/zapi_msg.c
index ea24333cb2..1d41b3ea14 100644
--- a/zebra/zapi_msg.c
+++ b/zebra/zapi_msg.c
@@ -1425,9 +1425,6 @@ static struct nexthop *nexthop_from_zapi(struct route_entry *re,
 	struct interface *ifp;
 	char nhbuf[INET6_ADDRSTRLEN] = "";
 
-	if (IS_ZEBRA_DEBUG_RECV)
-		zlog_debug("nh type %d", api_nh->type);
-
 	switch (api_nh->type) {
 	case NEXTHOP_TYPE_IFINDEX:
 		nexthop = nexthop_from_ifindex(api_nh->ifindex, api_nh->vrf_id);
@@ -1526,6 +1523,18 @@ static struct nexthop *nexthop_from_zapi(struct route_entry *re,
 	if (CHECK_FLAG(api_nh->flags, ZAPI_NEXTHOP_FLAG_WEIGHT))
 		nexthop->weight = api_nh->weight;
 
+	if (CHECK_FLAG(api_nh->flags, ZAPI_NEXTHOP_FLAG_HAS_BACKUP)) {
+		if (api_nh->backup_idx < api->backup_nexthop_num) {
+			/* Capture backup info */
+			SET_FLAG(nexthop->flags, NEXTHOP_FLAG_HAS_BACKUP);
+			nexthop->backup_idx = api_nh->backup_idx;
+		} else {
+			/* Warn about invalid backup index */
+			if (IS_ZEBRA_DEBUG_RECV || IS_ZEBRA_DEBUG_EVENT)
+				zlog_debug("%s: invalid backup nh idx %d",
+					   __func__, api_nh->backup_idx);
+		}
+	}
 done:
 	return nexthop;
 }
@@ -1540,9 +1549,13 @@ static void zread_route_add(ZAPI_HANDLER_ARGS)
 	struct route_entry *re;
 	struct nexthop *nexthop = NULL, *last_nh;
 	struct nexthop_group *ng = NULL;
-	struct nexthop_group *backup_ng = NULL;
+	struct nhg_backup_info *bnhg = NULL;
 	int i, ret;
 	vrf_id_t vrf_id;
+	struct nhg_hash_entry nhe;
+	enum lsp_types_t label_type;
+	char nhbuf[NEXTHOP_STRLEN];
+	char labelbuf[MPLS_LABEL_STRLEN];
 
 	s = msg;
 	if (zapi_route_decode(s, &api) < 0) {
@@ -1622,30 +1635,48 @@ static void zread_route_add(ZAPI_HANDLER_ARGS)
 		    && api_nh->type != NEXTHOP_TYPE_IFINDEX
 		    && api_nh->type != NEXTHOP_TYPE_BLACKHOLE
 		    && api_nh->label_num > 0) {
-			enum lsp_types_t label_type;
 
 			label_type = lsp_type_from_re_type(client->proto);
-
-			if (IS_ZEBRA_DEBUG_RECV) {
-				zlog_debug(
-					"%s: adding %d labels of type %d (1st=%u)",
-					__func__, api_nh->label_num, label_type,
-					api_nh->labels[0]);
-			}
-
 			nexthop_add_labels(nexthop, label_type,
 					   api_nh->label_num,
 					   &api_nh->labels[0]);
 		}
 
-		/* Add new nexthop to temporary list */
+		if (IS_ZEBRA_DEBUG_RECV) {
+			labelbuf[0] = '\0';
+			nhbuf[0] = '\0';
+
+			nexthop2str(nexthop, nhbuf, sizeof(nhbuf));
+
+			if (nexthop->nh_label &&
+			    nexthop->nh_label->num_labels > 0) {
+				mpls_label2str(nexthop->nh_label->num_labels,
+					       nexthop->nh_label->label,
+					       labelbuf, sizeof(labelbuf),
+					       false);
+			}
+
+			zlog_debug("%s: nh=%s, vrf_id=%d %s",
+				   __func__, nhbuf, api_nh->vrf_id, labelbuf);
+		}
+
+		/* Add new nexthop to temporary list. This list is
+		 * canonicalized - sorted - so that it can be hashed later
+		 * in route processing. We expect that the sender has sent
+		 * the list sorted, and the zapi client api attempts to enforce
+		 * that, so this should be inexpensive - but it is necessary
+		 * to support shared nexthop-groups.
+		 */
 		nexthop_group_add_sorted(ng, nexthop);
-		nexthop = NULL;
 	}
 
 	/* Allocate temporary list of backup nexthops, if necessary */
 	if (api.backup_nexthop_num > 0) {
-		backup_ng = nexthop_group_new();
+		if (IS_ZEBRA_DEBUG_RECV)
+			zlog_debug("%s: adding %d backup nexthops",
+				   __func__, api.backup_nexthop_num);
+
+		bnhg = zebra_nhg_backup_alloc();
 		nexthop = NULL;
 		last_nh = NULL;
 	}
@@ -1662,42 +1693,61 @@ static void zread_route_add(ZAPI_HANDLER_ARGS)
 				"%s: Backup Nexthops Specified: %d but we failed to properly create one",
 				__func__, api.backup_nexthop_num);
 			nexthop_group_delete(&ng);
-			nexthop_group_delete(&backup_ng);
+			zebra_nhg_backup_free(&bnhg);
 			XFREE(MTYPE_RE, re);
 			return;
 		}
 
+		/* Backup nexthops can't have backups; that's not valid. */
+		if (CHECK_FLAG(nexthop->flags, NEXTHOP_FLAG_HAS_BACKUP)) {
+			if (IS_ZEBRA_DEBUG_RECV) {
+				nexthop2str(nexthop, nhbuf, sizeof(nhbuf));
+				zlog_debug("%s: backup nh %s with BACKUP flag!",
+					   __func__, nhbuf);
+			}
+			UNSET_FLAG(nexthop->flags, NEXTHOP_FLAG_HAS_BACKUP);
+			nexthop->backup_idx = 0;
+		}
+
 		/* MPLS labels for BGP-LU or Segment Routing */
 		if (CHECK_FLAG(api_nh->flags, ZAPI_NEXTHOP_FLAG_LABEL)
 		    && api_nh->type != NEXTHOP_TYPE_IFINDEX
 		    && api_nh->type != NEXTHOP_TYPE_BLACKHOLE
 		    && api_nh->label_num > 0) {
-			enum lsp_types_t label_type;
 
 			label_type = lsp_type_from_re_type(client->proto);
-
-			if (IS_ZEBRA_DEBUG_RECV) {
-				zlog_debug(
-					"%s: adding %d labels of type %d (1st=%u)",
-					__func__, api_nh->label_num, label_type,
-					api_nh->labels[0]);
-			}
-
 			nexthop_add_labels(nexthop, label_type,
 					   api_nh->label_num,
 					   &api_nh->labels[0]);
 		}
 
-		/* Note that the order of the backup nexthops is significant
-		 * at this point - we don't sort this list as we do the
-		 * primary nexthops, we just append.
-		 */
-		if (last_nh) {
-			NEXTHOP_APPEND(last_nh, nexthop);
-		} else {
-			backup_ng->nexthop = nexthop;
+		if (IS_ZEBRA_DEBUG_RECV) {
+			labelbuf[0] = '\0';
+			nhbuf[0] = '\0';
+
+			nexthop2str(nexthop, nhbuf, sizeof(nhbuf));
+
+			if (nexthop->nh_label &&
+			    nexthop->nh_label->num_labels > 0) {
+				mpls_label2str(nexthop->nh_label->num_labels,
+					       nexthop->nh_label->label,
+					       labelbuf, sizeof(labelbuf),
+					       false);
+			}
+
+			zlog_debug("%s: backup nh=%s, vrf_id=%d %s",
+				   __func__, nhbuf, api_nh->vrf_id, labelbuf);
 		}
 
+		/* Note that the order of the backup nexthops is significant,
+		 * so we don't sort this list as we do the primary nexthops,
+		 * we just append.
+		 */
+		if (last_nh)
+			NEXTHOP_APPEND(last_nh, nexthop);
+		else
+			bnhg->nhe->nhg.nexthop = nexthop;
+
 		last_nh = nexthop;
 	}
 
@@ -1716,7 +1766,7 @@ static void zread_route_add(ZAPI_HANDLER_ARGS)
 			  "%s: Received SRC Prefix but afi is not v6",
 			  __func__);
 		nexthop_group_delete(&ng);
-		nexthop_group_delete(&backup_ng);
+		zebra_nhg_backup_free(&bnhg);
 		XFREE(MTYPE_RE, re);
 		return;
 	}
@@ -1728,10 +1778,17 @@ static void zread_route_add(ZAPI_HANDLER_ARGS)
 			  "%s: Received safi: %d but we can only accept UNICAST or MULTICAST",
 			  __func__, api.safi);
 		nexthop_group_delete(&ng);
+		zebra_nhg_backup_free(&bnhg);
 		XFREE(MTYPE_RE, re);
 		return;
 	}
-	ret = rib_add_multipath(afi, api.safi, &api.prefix, src_p, re, ng);
+
+	/* Include backup info with the route */
+	memset(&nhe, 0, sizeof(nhe));
+	nhe.nhg.nexthop = ng->nexthop;
+	nhe.backup_info = bnhg;
+	ret = rib_add_multipath_nhe(afi, api.safi, &api.prefix, src_p,
+				    re, &nhe);
 
 	/* Stats */
 	switch (api.prefix.family) {
diff --git a/zebra/zebra_dplane.c b/zebra/zebra_dplane.c
index 459d2bc620..a2365ee76b 100644
--- a/zebra/zebra_dplane.c
+++ b/zebra/zebra_dplane.c
@@ -113,10 +113,15 @@ struct dplane_route_info {
 	struct dplane_nexthop_info nhe;
 
 	/* Nexthops */
+	uint32_t zd_nhg_id;
 	struct nexthop_group zd_ng;
 
+	/* Backup nexthops (if present) */
+	struct nexthop_group backup_ng;
+
 	/* "Previous" nexthops, used only in route updates without netlink */
 	struct nexthop_group zd_old_ng;
+	struct nexthop_group old_backup_ng;
 
 	/* TODO -- use fixed array of nexthops, to avoid mallocs? */
 
@@ -472,6 +477,14 @@ static void dplane_ctx_free(struct zebra_dplane_ctx **pctx)
 			(*pctx)->u.rinfo.zd_ng.nexthop = NULL;
 		}
 
+		/* Free backup info also (if present) */
+		if ((*pctx)->u.rinfo.backup_ng.nexthop) {
+			/* This deals with recursive nexthops too */
+			nexthops_free((*pctx)->u.rinfo.backup_ng.nexthop);
+
+			(*pctx)->u.rinfo.backup_ng.nexthop = NULL;
+		}
+
 		if ((*pctx)->u.rinfo.zd_old_ng.nexthop) {
 			/* This deals with recursive nexthops too */
 			nexthops_free((*pctx)->u.rinfo.zd_old_ng.nexthop);
@@ -479,6 +492,13 @@ static void dplane_ctx_free(struct zebra_dplane_ctx **pctx)
 			(*pctx)->u.rinfo.zd_old_ng.nexthop = NULL;
 		}
 
+		if ((*pctx)->u.rinfo.old_backup_ng.nexthop) {
+			/* This deals with recursive nexthops too */
+			nexthops_free((*pctx)->u.rinfo.old_backup_ng.nexthop);
+
+			(*pctx)->u.rinfo.old_backup_ng.nexthop = NULL;
+		}
+
 		break;
 
 	case DPLANE_OP_NH_INSTALL:
@@ -1038,6 +1058,12 @@ void dplane_ctx_set_nexthops(struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx, struct nexthop *nh)
 	nexthop_group_copy_nh_sorted(&(ctx->u.rinfo.zd_ng), nh);
 }
 
+uint32_t dplane_ctx_get_nhg_id(const struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx)
+{
+	DPLANE_CTX_VALID(ctx);
+	return ctx->u.rinfo.zd_nhg_id;
+}
+
 const struct nexthop_group *dplane_ctx_get_ng(
 	const struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx)
 {
@@ -1046,14 +1072,30 @@ const struct nexthop_group *dplane_ctx_get_ng(
 	return &(ctx->u.rinfo.zd_ng);
 }
 
-const struct nexthop_group *dplane_ctx_get_old_ng(
-	const struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx)
+const struct nexthop_group *
+dplane_ctx_get_backup_ng(const struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx)
+{
+	DPLANE_CTX_VALID(ctx);
+
+	return &(ctx->u.rinfo.backup_ng);
+}
+
+const struct nexthop_group *
+dplane_ctx_get_old_ng(const struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx)
 {
 	DPLANE_CTX_VALID(ctx);
 
 	return &(ctx->u.rinfo.zd_old_ng);
 }
 
+const struct nexthop_group *
+dplane_ctx_get_old_backup_ng(const struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx)
+{
+	DPLANE_CTX_VALID(ctx);
+
+	return &(ctx->u.rinfo.old_backup_ng);
+}
+
 const struct zebra_dplane_info *dplane_ctx_get_ns(
 	const struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx)
 {
@@ -1514,6 +1556,13 @@ static int dplane_ctx_route_init(struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx,
 	/* Copy nexthops; recursive info is included too */
 	copy_nexthops(&(ctx->u.rinfo.zd_ng.nexthop),
 		      re->nhe->nhg.nexthop, NULL);
+	ctx->u.rinfo.zd_nhg_id = re->nhe->id;
+
+	/* Copy backup nexthop info, if present */
+	if (re->nhe->backup_info && re->nhe->backup_info->nhe) {
+		copy_nexthops(&(ctx->u.rinfo.backup_ng.nexthop),
+			      re->nhe->backup_info->nhe->nhg.nexthop, NULL);
+	}
 
 	/* Ensure that the dplane nexthops' flags are clear. */
 	for (ALL_NEXTHOPS(ctx->u.rinfo.zd_ng, nexthop))
@@ -1532,9 +1581,8 @@ static int dplane_ctx_route_init(struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx,
 	dplane_ctx_ns_init(ctx, zns, (op == DPLANE_OP_ROUTE_UPDATE));
 
 #ifdef HAVE_NETLINK
-	if (re->nhe_id) {
-		struct nhg_hash_entry *nhe =
-			zebra_nhg_resolve(zebra_nhg_lookup_id(re->nhe_id));
+	if (re->nhe) {
+		struct nhg_hash_entry *nhe = zebra_nhg_resolve(re->nhe);
 
 		ctx->u.rinfo.nhe.id = nhe->id;
 		/*
@@ -1581,7 +1629,6 @@ static int dplane_ctx_nexthop_init(struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx,
 {
 	struct zebra_vrf *zvrf = NULL;
 	struct zebra_ns *zns = NULL;
-
 	int ret = EINVAL;
 
 	if (!ctx || !nhe)
@@ -1850,6 +1897,17 @@ dplane_route_update_internal(struct route_node *rn,
 			 */
 			copy_nexthops(&(ctx->u.rinfo.zd_old_ng.nexthop),
 				      old_re->nhe->nhg.nexthop, NULL);
+
+			if (zebra_nhg_get_backup_nhg(old_re->nhe) != NULL) {
+				struct nexthop_group *nhg;
+				struct nexthop **nh;
+
+				nhg = zebra_nhg_get_backup_nhg(old_re->nhe);
+				nh = &(ctx->u.rinfo.old_backup_ng.nexthop);
+
+				if (nhg->nexthop)
+					copy_nexthops(nh, nhg->nexthop, NULL);
+			}
 #endif	/* !HAVE_NETLINK */
 		}
 
diff --git a/zebra/zebra_dplane.h b/zebra/zebra_dplane.h
index c0b04e71b0..9ce4df197c 100644
--- a/zebra/zebra_dplane.h
+++ b/zebra/zebra_dplane.h
@@ -270,11 +270,19 @@ void dplane_ctx_set_distance(struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx, uint8_t distance);
 uint8_t dplane_ctx_get_old_distance(const struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx);
 
 void dplane_ctx_set_nexthops(struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx, struct nexthop *nh);
+
+uint32_t dplane_ctx_get_nhg_id(const struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx);
 const struct nexthop_group *dplane_ctx_get_ng(
 	const struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx);
 const struct nexthop_group *dplane_ctx_get_old_ng(
 	const struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx);
 
+/* Backup nexthop information (list of nexthops) if present. */
+const struct nexthop_group *
+dplane_ctx_get_backup_ng(const struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx);
+const struct nexthop_group *
+dplane_ctx_get_old_backup_ng(const struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx);
+
 /* Accessors for nexthop information */
 uint32_t dplane_ctx_get_nhe_id(const struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx);
 afi_t dplane_ctx_get_nhe_afi(const struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx);
diff --git a/zebra/zebra_nhg.c b/zebra/zebra_nhg.c
index dc0af050d7..672611049c 100644
--- a/zebra/zebra_nhg.c
+++ b/zebra/zebra_nhg.c
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ static struct nhg_hash_entry *
 depends_find_id_add(struct nhg_connected_tree_head *head, uint32_t id);
 static void depends_decrement_free(struct nhg_connected_tree_head *head);
 
+static struct nhg_backup_info *
+nhg_backup_copy(const struct nhg_backup_info *orig);
+
 
 static void nhg_connected_free(struct nhg_connected *dep)
 {
@@ -341,7 +344,7 @@ struct nhg_hash_entry *zebra_nhg_alloc(void)
 	return nhe;
 }
 
-static struct nhg_hash_entry *zebra_nhg_copy(const struct nhg_hash_entry *copy,
+static struct nhg_hash_entry *zebra_nhg_copy(const struct nhg_hash_entry *orig,
 					     uint32_t id)
 {
 	struct nhg_hash_entry *nhe;
@@ -350,14 +353,18 @@ static struct nhg_hash_entry *zebra_nhg_copy(const struct nhg_hash_entry *copy,
 
 	nhe->id = id;
 
-	nexthop_group_copy(&(nhe->nhg), &(copy->nhg));
+	nexthop_group_copy(&(nhe->nhg), &(orig->nhg));
 
-	nhe->vrf_id = copy->vrf_id;
-	nhe->afi = copy->afi;
-	nhe->type = copy->type ? copy->type : ZEBRA_ROUTE_NHG;
+	nhe->vrf_id = orig->vrf_id;
+	nhe->afi = orig->afi;
+	nhe->type = orig->type ? orig->type : ZEBRA_ROUTE_NHG;
 	nhe->refcnt = 0;
 	nhe->dplane_ref = zebra_router_get_next_sequence();
 
+	/* Copy backup info also, if present */
+	if (orig->backup_info)
+		nhe->backup_info = nhg_backup_copy(orig->backup_info);
+
 	return nhe;
 }
 
@@ -381,12 +388,17 @@ static void *zebra_nhg_hash_alloc(void *arg)
 uint32_t zebra_nhg_hash_key(const void *arg)
 {
 	const struct nhg_hash_entry *nhe = arg;
+	uint32_t val, key = 0x5a351234;
 
-	uint32_t key = 0x5a351234;
+	val = nexthop_group_hash(&(nhe->nhg));
+	if (nhe->backup_info) {
+		val = jhash_2words(val,
+				   nexthop_group_hash(
+					   &(nhe->backup_info->nhe->nhg)),
+				   key);
+	}
 
-	key = jhash_3words(nhe->vrf_id, nhe->afi,
-			   nexthop_group_hash(&(nhe->nhg)),
-			   key);
+	key = jhash_3words(nhe->vrf_id, nhe->afi, val, key);
 
 	return key;
 }
@@ -398,6 +410,50 @@ uint32_t zebra_nhg_id_key(const void *arg)
 	return nhe->id;
 }
 
+/* Helper with common nhg/nhe nexthop comparison logic */
+static bool nhg_compare_nexthops(const struct nexthop *nh1,
+				 const struct nexthop *nh2)
+{
+	if (nh1 && !nh2)
+		return false;
+
+	if (!nh1 && nh2)
+		return false;
+
+	/*
+	 * We have to check the active flag of each individual one,
+	 * not just the overall active_num. This solves the special case
+	 * issue of a route with a nexthop group with one nexthop
+	 * resolving to itself and thus marking it inactive. If we
+	 * have two different routes each wanting to mark a different
+	 * nexthop inactive, they need to hash to two different groups.
+	 *
+	 * If we just hashed on num_active, they would hash the same
+	 * which is incorrect.
+	 *
+	 * ex)
+	 *      1.1.1.0/24
+	 *           -> 1.1.1.1 dummy1 (inactive)
+	 *           -> 1.1.2.1 dummy2
+	 *
+	 *      1.1.2.0/24
+	 *           -> 1.1.1.1 dummy1
+	 *           -> 1.1.2.1 dummy2 (inactive)
+	 *
+	 * Without checking each individual one, they would hash to
+	 * the same group and both have 1.1.1.1 dummy1 marked inactive.
+	 *
+	 */
+	if (CHECK_FLAG(nh1->flags, NEXTHOP_FLAG_ACTIVE)
+	    != CHECK_FLAG(nh2->flags, NEXTHOP_FLAG_ACTIVE))
+		return false;
+
+	if (!nexthop_same(nh1, nh2))
+		return false;
+
+	return true;
+}
+
 bool zebra_nhg_hash_equal(const void *arg1, const void *arg2)
 {
 	const struct nhg_hash_entry *nhe1 = arg1;
@@ -415,45 +471,44 @@ bool zebra_nhg_hash_equal(const void *arg1, const void *arg2)
 	if (nhe1->afi != nhe2->afi)
 		return false;
 
-	/* Nexthops should be sorted */
+	/* Nexthops should be in-order, so we simply compare them in-place */
 	for (nexthop1 = nhe1->nhg.nexthop, nexthop2 = nhe2->nhg.nexthop;
 	     nexthop1 || nexthop2;
 	     nexthop1 = nexthop1->next, nexthop2 = nexthop2->next) {
-		if (nexthop1 && !nexthop2)
-			return false;
 
-		if (!nexthop1 && nexthop2)
+		if (!nhg_compare_nexthops(nexthop1, nexthop2))
 			return false;
+	}
 
-		/*
-		 * We have to check the active flag of each individual one,
-		 * not just the overall active_num. This solves the special case
-		 * issue of a route with a nexthop group with one nexthop
-		 * resolving to itself and thus marking it inactive. If we
-		 * have two different routes each wanting to mark a different
-		 * nexthop inactive, they need to hash to two different groups.
-		 *
-		 * If we just hashed on num_active, they would hash the same
-		 * which is incorrect.
-		 *
-		 * ex)
-		 *      1.1.1.0/24
-		 *           -> 1.1.1.1 dummy1 (inactive)
-		 *           -> 1.1.2.1 dummy2
-		 *
-		 *      1.1.2.0/24
-		 *           -> 1.1.1.1 dummy1
-		 *           -> 1.1.2.1 dummy2 (inactive)
-		 *
-		 * Without checking each individual one, they would hash to
-		 * the same group and both have 1.1.1.1 dummy1 marked inactive.
-		 *
-		 */
-		if (CHECK_FLAG(nexthop1->flags, NEXTHOP_FLAG_ACTIVE)
-		    != CHECK_FLAG(nexthop2->flags, NEXTHOP_FLAG_ACTIVE))
-			return false;
+	/* If there's no backup info, comparison is done. */
+	if ((nhe1->backup_info == NULL) && (nhe2->backup_info == NULL))
+		return true;
 
-		if (!nexthop_same(nexthop1, nexthop2))
+	/* Compare backup info also - test the easy things first */
+	if (nhe1->backup_info && (nhe2->backup_info == NULL))
+		return false;
+	if (nhe2->backup_info && (nhe1->backup_info == NULL))
+		return false;
+
+	/* Compare number of backups before actually comparing any */
+	for (nexthop1 = nhe1->backup_info->nhe->nhg.nexthop,
+	     nexthop2 = nhe2->backup_info->nhe->nhg.nexthop;
+	     nexthop1 && nexthop2;
+	     nexthop1 = nexthop1->next, nexthop2 = nexthop2->next) {
+		;
+	}
+
+	/* Did we find the end of one list before the other? */
+	if (nexthop1 || nexthop2)
+		return false;
+
+	/* Have to compare the backup nexthops */
+	for (nexthop1 = nhe1->backup_info->nhe->nhg.nexthop,
+	     nexthop2 = nhe2->backup_info->nhe->nhg.nexthop;
+	     nexthop1 || nexthop2;
+	     nexthop1 = nexthop1->next, nexthop2 = nexthop2->next) {
+
+		if (!nhg_compare_nexthops(nexthop1, nexthop2))
 			return false;
 	}
 
@@ -530,6 +585,11 @@ static bool zebra_nhg_find(struct nhg_hash_entry **nhe, uint32_t id,
 	bool created = false;
 	bool recursive = false;
 
+	if (IS_ZEBRA_DEBUG_NHG_DETAIL)
+		zlog_debug("%s: id %u, nhg %p, vrf %d, type %d, depends %p",
+			   __func__, id, nhg, vrf_id, type,
+			   nhg_depends);
+
 	/*
 	 * If it has an id at this point, we must have gotten it from the kernel
 	 */
@@ -1154,6 +1214,10 @@ depends_find_add(struct nhg_connected_tree_head *head, struct nexthop *nh,
 
 	depend = depends_find(nh, afi);
 
+	if (IS_ZEBRA_DEBUG_NHG_DETAIL)
+		zlog_debug("%s: nh %pNHv => %p",
+			   __func__, nh, depend);
+
 	if (depend)
 		depends_add(head, depend);
 
@@ -1198,10 +1262,87 @@ zebra_nhg_rib_find(uint32_t id, struct nexthop_group *nhg, afi_t rt_afi)
 	return nhe;
 }
 
+/*
+ * Allocate backup nexthop info object. Typically these are embedded in
+ * nhg_hash_entry objects.
+ */
+struct nhg_backup_info *zebra_nhg_backup_alloc(void)
+{
+	struct nhg_backup_info *p;
+
+	p = XCALLOC(MTYPE_NHG, sizeof(struct nhg_backup_info));
+
+	p->nhe = zebra_nhg_alloc();
+
+	/* Identify the embedded group used to hold the list of backups */
+	SET_FLAG(p->nhe->flags, NEXTHOP_GROUP_BACKUP);
+
+	return p;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Free backup nexthop info object, deal with any embedded allocations
+ */
+void zebra_nhg_backup_free(struct nhg_backup_info **p)
+{
+	if (p && *p) {
+		if ((*p)->nhe)
+			zebra_nhg_free((*p)->nhe);
+
+		XFREE(MTYPE_NHG, (*p));
+	}
+}
+
+/* Accessor for backup nexthop info */
+struct nhg_hash_entry *zebra_nhg_get_backup_nhe(struct nhg_hash_entry *nhe)
+{
+	struct nhg_hash_entry *p = NULL;
+
+	if (nhe) {
+		if (nhe->backup_info)
+			p = nhe->backup_info->nhe;
+	}
+
+	return p;
+}
+
+/* Accessor for backup nexthop group */
+struct nexthop_group *zebra_nhg_get_backup_nhg(struct nhg_hash_entry *nhe)
+{
+	struct nexthop_group *p = NULL;
+
+	if (nhe) {
+		if (nhe->backup_info && nhe->backup_info->nhe)
+			p = &(nhe->backup_info->nhe->nhg);
+	}
+
+	return p;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Helper to return a copy of a backup_info - note that this is a shallow
+ * copy, meant to be used when creating a new nhe from info passed in with
+ * a route e.g.
+ */
+static struct nhg_backup_info *
+nhg_backup_copy(const struct nhg_backup_info *orig)
+{
+	struct nhg_backup_info *b;
+
+	b = zebra_nhg_backup_alloc();
+
+	/* Copy list of nexthops */
+	nexthop_group_copy(&(b->nhe->nhg), &(orig->nhe->nhg));
+
+	return b;
+}
+
 static void zebra_nhg_free_members(struct nhg_hash_entry *nhe)
 {
 	nexthops_free(nhe->nhg.nexthop);
 
+	zebra_nhg_backup_free(&nhe->backup_info);
+
 	/* Decrement to remove connection ref */
 	nhg_connected_tree_decrement_ref(&nhe->nhg_depends);
 	nhg_connected_tree_free(&nhe->nhg_depends);
diff --git a/zebra/zebra_nhg.h b/zebra/zebra_nhg.h
index dc3a47c020..340de952be 100644
--- a/zebra/zebra_nhg.h
+++ b/zebra/zebra_nhg.h
@@ -50,6 +50,9 @@ struct nhg_hash_entry {
 
 	struct nexthop_group nhg;
 
+	/* If supported, a mapping of backup nexthops. */
+	struct nhg_backup_info *backup_info;
+
 	/* If this is not a group, it
 	 * will be a single nexthop
 	 * and must have an interface
@@ -72,6 +75,7 @@ struct nhg_hash_entry {
 	 * faster with ID's.
 	 */
 	struct nhg_connected_tree_head nhg_depends, nhg_dependents;
+
 /*
  * Is this nexthop group valid, ie all nexthops are fully resolved.
  * What is fully resolved?  It's a nexthop that is either self contained
@@ -102,11 +106,25 @@ struct nhg_hash_entry {
  * from the kernel. Therefore, it is unhashable.
  */
 #define NEXTHOP_GROUP_UNHASHABLE (1 << 4)
+
+/*
+ * Backup nexthop support - identify groups that are backups for
+ * another group.
+ */
+#define NEXTHOP_GROUP_BACKUP (1 << 5)
+
 };
 
 /* Was this one we created, either this session or previously? */
 #define ZEBRA_NHG_CREATED(NHE) ((NHE->type) == ZEBRA_ROUTE_NHG)
 
+/*
+ * Backup nexthops: this is a group object itself, so
+ * that the backup nexthops can use the same code as a normal object.
+ */
+struct nhg_backup_info {
+	struct nhg_hash_entry *nhe;
+};
 
 enum nhg_ctx_op_e {
 	NHG_CTX_OP_NONE = 0,
@@ -162,13 +180,20 @@ bool zebra_nhg_kernel_nexthops_enabled(void);
 
 /**
  * NHE abstracted tree functions.
- * Use these where possible instead of the direct ones access ones.
+ * Use these where possible instead of direct access.
  */
 struct nhg_hash_entry *zebra_nhg_alloc(void);
 void zebra_nhg_free(struct nhg_hash_entry *nhe);
 /* In order to clear a generic hash, we need a generic api, sigh. */
 void zebra_nhg_hash_free(void *p);
 
+/* Allocate, free backup nexthop info objects */
+struct nhg_backup_info *zebra_nhg_backup_alloc(void);
+void zebra_nhg_backup_free(struct nhg_backup_info **p);
+
+struct nhg_hash_entry *zebra_nhg_get_backup_nhe(struct nhg_hash_entry *nhe);
+struct nexthop_group *zebra_nhg_get_backup_nhg(struct nhg_hash_entry *nhe);
+
 extern struct nhg_hash_entry *zebra_nhg_resolve(struct nhg_hash_entry *nhe);
 
 extern unsigned int zebra_nhg_depends_count(const struct nhg_hash_entry *nhe);
diff --git a/zebra/zebra_rib.c b/zebra/zebra_rib.c
index 29d59b515f..d059bc9290 100644
--- a/zebra/zebra_rib.c
+++ b/zebra/zebra_rib.c
@@ -2338,7 +2338,6 @@ static void rib_addnode(struct route_node *rn,
 void rib_unlink(struct route_node *rn, struct route_entry *re)
 {
 	rib_dest_t *dest;
-	struct nhg_hash_entry *nhe = NULL;
 
 	assert(rn && re);
 
@@ -2353,11 +2352,10 @@ void rib_unlink(struct route_node *rn, struct route_entry *re)
 	if (dest->selected_fib == re)
 		dest->selected_fib = NULL;
 
-	if (re->nhe_id) {
-		nhe = zebra_nhg_lookup_id(re->nhe_id);
-		if (nhe)
-			zebra_nhg_decrement_ref(nhe);
-	} else if (re->nhe->nhg.nexthop)
+	if (re->nhe && re->nhe_id) {
+		assert(re->nhe->id == re->nhe_id);
+		zebra_nhg_decrement_ref(re->nhe);
+	} else if (re->nhe && re->nhe->nhg.nexthop)
 		nexthops_free(re->nhe->nhg.nexthop);
 
 	nexthops_free(re->fib_ng.nexthop);
@@ -2574,51 +2572,52 @@ void rib_lookup_and_pushup(struct prefix_ipv4 *p, vrf_id_t vrf_id)
 	}
 }
 
-int rib_add_multipath(afi_t afi, safi_t safi, struct prefix *p,
-		      struct prefix_ipv6 *src_p, struct route_entry *re,
-		      struct nexthop_group *ng)
+/*
+ * Internal route-add implementation; there are a couple of different public
+ * signatures. Callers in this path are responsible for the memory they
+ * allocate: if they allocate a nexthop_group or backup nexthop info, they
+ * must free those objects. If this returns < 0, an error has occurred and the
+ * route_entry 're' has not been captured; the caller should free that also.
+ */
+int rib_add_multipath_nhe(afi_t afi, safi_t safi, struct prefix *p,
+			  struct prefix_ipv6 *src_p,
+			  struct route_entry *re,
+			  struct nhg_hash_entry *re_nhe)
 {
 	struct nhg_hash_entry *nhe = NULL;
 	struct route_table *table;
 	struct route_node *rn;
 	struct route_entry *same = NULL;
 	int ret = 0;
+	struct nexthop_group *ng;
 
-	if (!re)
-		return 0;
+	if (!re || !re_nhe)
+		return -1;
 
 	assert(!src_p || !src_p->prefixlen || afi == AFI_IP6);
 
+	/* TODO */
+	ng = &(re_nhe->nhg);
+
 	/* Lookup table.  */
 	table = zebra_vrf_get_table_with_table_id(afi, safi, re->vrf_id,
 						  re->table);
-	if (!table) {
-		if (ng)
-			nexthop_group_delete(&ng);
-		XFREE(MTYPE_RE, re);
-		return 0;
-	}
+	if (!table)
+		return -1;
 
-	if (re->nhe_id) {
-		nhe = zebra_nhg_lookup_id(re->nhe_id);
+	if (re_nhe->id > 0) {
+		nhe = zebra_nhg_lookup_id(re_nhe->id);
 
 		if (!nhe) {
 			flog_err(
 				EC_ZEBRA_TABLE_LOOKUP_FAILED,
 				"Zebra failed to find the nexthop hash entry for id=%u in a route entry",
-				re->nhe_id);
-			XFREE(MTYPE_RE, re);
+				re_nhe->id);
+
 			return -1;
 		}
 	} else {
 		nhe = zebra_nhg_rib_find(0, ng, afi);
-
-		/*
-		 * The nexthops got copied over into an nhe,
-		 * so free them now.
-		 */
-		nexthop_group_delete(&ng);
-
 		if (!nhe) {
 			char buf[PREFIX_STRLEN] = "";
 			char buf2[PREFIX_STRLEN] = "";
@@ -2631,7 +2630,6 @@ int rib_add_multipath(afi_t afi, safi_t safi, struct prefix *p,
 				src_p ? prefix2str(src_p, buf2, sizeof(buf2))
 				      : "");
 
-			XFREE(MTYPE_RE, re);
 			return -1;
 		}
 	}
@@ -2709,15 +2707,50 @@ int rib_add_multipath(afi_t afi, safi_t safi, struct prefix *p,
 	ret = 1;
 
 	/* Free implicit route.*/
-	if (same) {
+	if (same)
 		rib_delnode(rn, same);
-		ret = -1;
-	}
 
 	route_unlock_node(rn);
 	return ret;
 }
 
+/*
+ * Add a single route.
+ */
+int rib_add_multipath(afi_t afi, safi_t safi, struct prefix *p,
+		      struct prefix_ipv6 *src_p, struct route_entry *re,
+		      struct nexthop_group *ng)
+{
+	int ret;
+	struct nhg_hash_entry nhe = {};
+
+	if (!re)
+		return -1;
+
+	/* We either need nexthop(s) or an existing nexthop id */
+	if (ng == NULL && re->nhe_id == 0)
+		return -1;
+
+	/*
+	 * Use a temporary nhe to convey info to the common/main api.
+	 */
+	if (ng)
+		nhe.nhg.nexthop = ng->nexthop;
+	else if (re->nhe_id > 0)
+		nhe.id = re->nhe_id;
+
+	ret = rib_add_multipath_nhe(afi, safi, p, src_p, re, &nhe);
+
+	/* In this path, the callers expect memory to be freed. */
+	nexthop_group_delete(&ng);
+
+	/* In error cases, free the route also */
+	if (ret < 0)
+		XFREE(MTYPE_RE, re);
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
 void rib_delete(afi_t afi, safi_t safi, vrf_id_t vrf_id, int type,
 		unsigned short instance, int flags, struct prefix *p,
 		struct prefix_ipv6 *src_p, const struct nexthop *nh,