A method comprising: selecting, by a first virtual routing node of a single-chassis network device having a plurality of forwarding components (1024, 1120) and a plurality of fabric links (1033, 1128) coupling respective pairs of the plurality of forwarding components at respective fabric interfaces of the plurality of forwarding components, a fabric interface of a first forwarding component of the plurality of forwarding components, the first forwarding component having an egress interface toward a network destination and being associated with the first virtual routing node, wherein a second forwarding component of the plurality of forwarding components, the second forwarding component having a second fabric interface, is additionally associated with the first virtual routing node; advertising, by the first virtual routing node to a second virtual routing node of the single-chassis network device, a message specifying the fabric interface as a next hop for the network destination and a context forwarding table of the second virtual routing node in which to store the fabric interface, wherein the first and second forwarding components associated with the first virtual routing node are each coupled, via a respective fabric link, to a third forwarding component of the plurality of forwarding components, associated with the second virtual routing node; in response to receiving the message specifying the fabric interface, storing, by the second virtual routing node to the context forwarding table of the second virtual node, an identifier of the fabric interface as a next hop for the network destination; selecting, by the second virtual routing node and based on the context forwarding table and a context next hop in a first forwarding table pointing to the context forwarding table, the fabric interface for forwarding network packets destined for the network destination received by the second virtual routing node; and forwarding, by the second virtual routing node, network packets destined for the network destination to the selected fabric interface. selecting, by a first virtual routing node of a single-chassis network device having a plurality of forwarding components (1024, 1120) and a plurality of fabric links (1033, 1128) coupling respective pairs of the plurality of forwarding components at respective fabric interfaces of the plurality of forwarding components, a fabric interface of a first forwarding component of the plurality of forwarding components, the first forwarding component having an egress interface toward a network destination and being associated with the first virtual routing node, wherein a second forwarding component of the plurality of forwarding components, the second forwarding component having a second fabric interface, is additionally associated with the first virtual routing node; advertising, by the first virtual routing node to a second virtual routing node of the single-chassis network device, a message specifying the fabric interface as a next hop for the network destination and a context forwarding table of the second virtual routing node in which to store the fabric interface, wherein the first and second forwarding components associated with the first virtual routing node are each coupled, via a respective fabric link, to a third forwarding component of the plurality of forwarding components, associated with the second virtual routing node; in response to receiving the message specifying the fabric interface, storing, by the second virtual routing node to the context forwarding table of the second virtual node, an identifier of the fabric interface as a next hop for the network destination; selecting, by the second virtual routing node and based on the context forwarding table and a context next hop in a first forwarding table pointing to the context forwarding table, the fabric interface for forwarding network packets destined for the network destination received by the second virtual routing node; and forwarding, by the second virtual routing node, network packets destined for the network destination to the selected fabric interface.