A method comprising: selecting, by a first virtual routing node of a single-chassis network device having a plurality of forwarding components and a plurality of fabric links coupling respective pairs of the plurality of forwarding components at respective fabric interfaces of the plurality of forwarding components, a fabric interface of a forwarding component of the plurality of forwarding components, wherein the forwarding component having the fabric interface has an egress interface toward a network destination and is associated with the first virtual routing node, and wherein the fabric interface is an ingress interface of the forwarding component; advertising, by the first virtual routing node to a second virtual routing node of the single-chassis network device and using one of a first subset of the plurality of forwarding components, the fabric interface as a next hop for the network destination; in response to receiving the fabric interface advertisement, storing, by the second virtual routing node to a context data structure of the second virtual node, the fabric interface as a next hop for the network destination; selecting, by the second virtual routing node and based on the context data structure, the fabric interface from among a plurality of fabric interfaces as a next hop for the network destination; and forwarding, by the second virtual routing node and using one of a second subset of the plurality of forwarding components where the second subset is distinct from the first subset, network traffic 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 and a plurality of fabric links coupling respective pairs of the plurality of forwarding components at respective fabric interfaces of the plurality of forwarding components, a fabric interface of a forwarding component of the plurality of forwarding components, wherein the forwarding component having the fabric interface has an egress interface toward a network destination and is associated with the first virtual routing node, and wherein the fabric interface is an ingress interface of the forwarding component; advertising, by the first virtual routing node to a second virtual routing node of the single-chassis network device and using one of a first subset of the plurality of forwarding components, the fabric interface as a next hop for the network destination; in response to receiving the fabric interface advertisement, storing, by the second virtual routing node to a context data structure of the second virtual node, the fabric interface as a next hop for the network destination; selecting, by the second virtual routing node and based on the context data structure, the fabric interface from among a plurality of fabric interfaces as a next hop for the network destination; and forwarding, by the second virtual routing node and using one of a second subset of the plurality of forwarding components where the second subset is distinct from the first subset, network traffic destined for the network destination to the selected fabric interface. <EOS>