diff --git a/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd.h b/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd.h
index 8f2e4be23..2d02fa731 100644
--- a/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd.h
+++ b/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd.h
@@ -221,6 +221,16 @@ lpm_event_main_loop_tx_q(__attribute__((unused)) void *dummy);
 int
 lpm_event_main_loop_tx_q_burst(__attribute__((unused)) void *dummy);
 
+int
+em_event_main_loop_tx_d(__attribute__((unused)) void *dummy);
+int
+em_event_main_loop_tx_d_burst(__attribute__((unused)) void *dummy);
+int
+em_event_main_loop_tx_q(__attribute__((unused)) void *dummy);
+int
+em_event_main_loop_tx_q_burst(__attribute__((unused)) void *dummy);
+
+
 /* Return ipv4/ipv6 fwd lookup struct for LPM or EM. */
 void *
 em_get_ipv4_l3fwd_lookup_struct(const int socketid);
diff --git a/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd_em.c b/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd_em.c
index 74a7c8fa4..1a8bc9168 100644
--- a/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd_em.c
+++ b/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd_em.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include <rte_hash.h>
 
 #include "l3fwd.h"
+#include "l3fwd_event.h"
 
 #if defined(RTE_ARCH_X86) || defined(RTE_MACHINE_CPUFLAG_CRC32)
 #define EM_HASH_CRC 1
@@ -699,6 +700,182 @@ em_main_loop(__attribute__((unused)) void *dummy)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static __rte_always_inline void
+em_event_loop_single(struct l3fwd_event_resources *evt_rsrc,
+		const uint8_t flags)
+{
+	const int event_p_id = l3fwd_get_free_event_port(evt_rsrc);
+	const uint8_t tx_q_id = evt_rsrc->evq.event_q_id[
+		evt_rsrc->evq.nb_queues - 1];
+	const uint8_t event_d_id = evt_rsrc->event_d_id;
+	struct lcore_conf *lconf;
+	unsigned int lcore_id;
+	struct rte_event ev;
+
+	if (event_p_id < 0)
+		return;
+
+	lcore_id = rte_lcore_id();
+	lconf = &lcore_conf[lcore_id];
+
+	RTE_LOG(INFO, L3FWD, "entering %s on lcore %u\n", __func__, lcore_id);
+	while (!force_quit) {
+		if (!rte_event_dequeue_burst(event_d_id, event_p_id, &ev, 1, 0))
+			continue;
+
+		struct rte_mbuf *mbuf = ev.mbuf;
+
+#if defined RTE_ARCH_X86 || defined RTE_MACHINE_CPUFLAG_NEON
+		mbuf->port = em_get_dst_port(lconf, mbuf, mbuf->port);
+		process_packet(mbuf, &mbuf->port);
+#else
+		l3fwd_em_simple_process(mbuf, lconf);
+#endif
+		if (mbuf->port == BAD_PORT) {
+			rte_pktmbuf_free(mbuf);
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		if (flags & L3FWD_EVENT_TX_ENQ) {
+			ev.queue_id = tx_q_id;
+			ev.op = RTE_EVENT_OP_FORWARD;
+			while (rte_event_enqueue_burst(event_d_id, event_p_id,
+						&ev, 1) && !force_quit)
+				;
+		}
+
+		if (flags & L3FWD_EVENT_TX_DIRECT) {
+			rte_event_eth_tx_adapter_txq_set(mbuf, 0);
+			while (!rte_event_eth_tx_adapter_enqueue(event_d_id,
+						event_p_id, &ev, 1, 0) &&
+					!force_quit)
+				;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+static __rte_always_inline void
+em_event_loop_burst(struct l3fwd_event_resources *evt_rsrc,
+		const uint8_t flags)
+{
+	const int event_p_id = l3fwd_get_free_event_port(evt_rsrc);
+	const uint8_t tx_q_id = evt_rsrc->evq.event_q_id[
+		evt_rsrc->evq.nb_queues - 1];
+	const uint8_t event_d_id = evt_rsrc->event_d_id;
+	const uint16_t deq_len = evt_rsrc->deq_depth;
+	struct rte_event events[MAX_PKT_BURST];
+	struct lcore_conf *lconf;
+	unsigned int lcore_id;
+	int i, nb_enq, nb_deq;
+
+	if (event_p_id < 0)
+		return;
+
+	lcore_id = rte_lcore_id();
+
+	lconf = &lcore_conf[lcore_id];
+
+	RTE_LOG(INFO, L3FWD, "entering %s on lcore %u\n", __func__, lcore_id);
+
+	while (!force_quit) {
+		/* Read events from RX queues */
+		nb_deq = rte_event_dequeue_burst(event_d_id, event_p_id,
+				events, deq_len, 0);
+		if (nb_deq == 0) {
+			rte_pause();
+			continue;
+		}
+
+#if defined RTE_ARCH_X86 || defined RTE_MACHINE_CPUFLAG_NEON
+		l3fwd_em_process_events(nb_deq, (struct rte_event **)&events,
+					lconf);
+#else
+		l3fwd_em_no_opt_process_events(nb_deq,
+					       (struct rte_event **)&events,
+					       lconf);
+#endif
+		for (i = 0; i < nb_deq; i++) {
+			if (flags & L3FWD_EVENT_TX_ENQ) {
+				events[i].queue_id = tx_q_id;
+				events[i].op = RTE_EVENT_OP_FORWARD;
+			}
+
+			if (flags & L3FWD_EVENT_TX_DIRECT)
+				rte_event_eth_tx_adapter_txq_set(events[i].mbuf,
+								 0);
+		}
+
+		if (flags & L3FWD_EVENT_TX_ENQ) {
+			nb_enq = rte_event_enqueue_burst(event_d_id, event_p_id,
+					events, nb_deq);
+			while (nb_enq < nb_deq && !force_quit)
+				nb_enq += rte_event_enqueue_burst(event_d_id,
+						event_p_id, events + nb_enq,
+						nb_deq - nb_enq);
+		}
+
+		if (flags & L3FWD_EVENT_TX_DIRECT) {
+			nb_enq = rte_event_eth_tx_adapter_enqueue(event_d_id,
+					event_p_id, events, nb_deq, 0);
+			while (nb_enq < nb_deq && !force_quit)
+				nb_enq += rte_event_eth_tx_adapter_enqueue(
+						event_d_id, event_p_id,
+						events + nb_enq,
+						nb_deq - nb_enq, 0);
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+static __rte_always_inline void
+em_event_loop(struct l3fwd_event_resources *evt_rsrc,
+		 const uint8_t flags)
+{
+	if (flags & L3FWD_EVENT_SINGLE)
+		em_event_loop_single(evt_rsrc, flags);
+	if (flags & L3FWD_EVENT_BURST)
+		em_event_loop_burst(evt_rsrc, flags);
+}
+
+int __rte_noinline
+em_event_main_loop_tx_d(__attribute__((unused)) void *dummy)
+{
+	struct l3fwd_event_resources *evt_rsrc =
+					l3fwd_get_eventdev_rsrc();
+
+	em_event_loop(evt_rsrc, L3FWD_EVENT_TX_DIRECT | L3FWD_EVENT_SINGLE);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int __rte_noinline
+em_event_main_loop_tx_d_burst(__attribute__((unused)) void *dummy)
+{
+	struct l3fwd_event_resources *evt_rsrc =
+					l3fwd_get_eventdev_rsrc();
+
+	em_event_loop(evt_rsrc, L3FWD_EVENT_TX_DIRECT | L3FWD_EVENT_BURST);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int __rte_noinline
+em_event_main_loop_tx_q(__attribute__((unused)) void *dummy)
+{
+	struct l3fwd_event_resources *evt_rsrc =
+					l3fwd_get_eventdev_rsrc();
+
+	em_event_loop(evt_rsrc, L3FWD_EVENT_TX_ENQ | L3FWD_EVENT_SINGLE);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int __rte_noinline
+em_event_main_loop_tx_q_burst(__attribute__((unused)) void *dummy)
+{
+	struct l3fwd_event_resources *evt_rsrc =
+					l3fwd_get_eventdev_rsrc();
+
+	em_event_loop(evt_rsrc, L3FWD_EVENT_TX_ENQ | L3FWD_EVENT_BURST);
+	return 0;
+}
+
 /*
  * Initialize exact match (hash) parameters.
  */
diff --git a/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd_em.h b/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd_em.h
index 090c1b448..b992a21da 100644
--- a/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd_em.h
+++ b/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd_em.h
@@ -5,73 +5,92 @@
 #ifndef __L3FWD_EM_H__
 #define __L3FWD_EM_H__
 
-static __rte_always_inline void
-l3fwd_em_simple_forward(struct rte_mbuf *m, uint16_t portid,
-		struct lcore_conf *qconf)
+static __rte_always_inline uint16_t
+l3fwd_em_handle_ipv4(struct rte_mbuf *m, uint16_t portid,
+		     struct rte_ether_hdr *eth_hdr, struct lcore_conf *qconf)
 {
-	struct rte_ether_hdr *eth_hdr;
 	struct rte_ipv4_hdr *ipv4_hdr;
 	uint16_t dst_port;
-	uint32_t tcp_or_udp;
-	uint32_t l3_ptypes;
-
-	eth_hdr = rte_pktmbuf_mtod(m, struct rte_ether_hdr *);
-	tcp_or_udp = m->packet_type & (RTE_PTYPE_L4_TCP | RTE_PTYPE_L4_UDP);
-	l3_ptypes = m->packet_type & RTE_PTYPE_L3_MASK;
 
-	if (tcp_or_udp && (l3_ptypes == RTE_PTYPE_L3_IPV4)) {
-		/* Handle IPv4 headers.*/
-		ipv4_hdr = rte_pktmbuf_mtod_offset(m, struct rte_ipv4_hdr *,
-						sizeof(struct rte_ether_hdr));
+	/* Handle IPv4 headers.*/
+	ipv4_hdr = rte_pktmbuf_mtod_offset(m, struct rte_ipv4_hdr *,
+			sizeof(struct rte_ether_hdr));
 
 #ifdef DO_RFC_1812_CHECKS
-		/* Check to make sure the packet is valid (RFC1812) */
-		if (is_valid_ipv4_pkt(ipv4_hdr, m->pkt_len) < 0) {
-			rte_pktmbuf_free(m);
-			return;
-		}
+	/* Check to make sure the packet is valid (RFC1812) */
+	if (is_valid_ipv4_pkt(ipv4_hdr, m->pkt_len) < 0) {
+		rte_pktmbuf_free(m);
+		return BAD_PORT;
+	}
 #endif
-		dst_port = em_get_ipv4_dst_port(ipv4_hdr, portid,
-						qconf->ipv4_lookup_struct);
+	dst_port = em_get_ipv4_dst_port(ipv4_hdr, portid,
+			qconf->ipv4_lookup_struct);
 
-		if (dst_port >= RTE_MAX_ETHPORTS ||
+	if (dst_port >= RTE_MAX_ETHPORTS ||
 			(enabled_port_mask & 1 << dst_port) == 0)
-			dst_port = portid;
+		dst_port = portid;
 
 #ifdef DO_RFC_1812_CHECKS
-		/* Update time to live and header checksum */
-		--(ipv4_hdr->time_to_live);
-		++(ipv4_hdr->hdr_checksum);
+	/* Update time to live and header checksum */
+	--(ipv4_hdr->time_to_live);
+	++(ipv4_hdr->hdr_checksum);
 #endif
-		/* dst addr */
-		*(uint64_t *)&eth_hdr->d_addr = dest_eth_addr[dst_port];
+	/* dst addr */
+	*(uint64_t *)&eth_hdr->d_addr = dest_eth_addr[dst_port];
 
-		/* src addr */
-		rte_ether_addr_copy(&ports_eth_addr[dst_port],
-				&eth_hdr->s_addr);
+	/* src addr */
+	rte_ether_addr_copy(&ports_eth_addr[dst_port],
+			&eth_hdr->s_addr);
 
-		send_single_packet(qconf, m, dst_port);
-	} else if (tcp_or_udp && (l3_ptypes == RTE_PTYPE_L3_IPV6)) {
-		/* Handle IPv6 headers.*/
-		struct rte_ipv6_hdr *ipv6_hdr;
+	return dst_port;
+}
 
-		ipv6_hdr = rte_pktmbuf_mtod_offset(m, struct rte_ipv6_hdr *,
-						sizeof(struct rte_ether_hdr));
+static __rte_always_inline uint16_t
+l3fwd_em_handle_ipv6(struct rte_mbuf *m, uint16_t portid,
+		struct rte_ether_hdr *eth_hdr, struct lcore_conf *qconf)
+{
+	/* Handle IPv6 headers.*/
+	struct rte_ipv6_hdr *ipv6_hdr;
+	uint16_t dst_port;
 
-		dst_port = em_get_ipv6_dst_port(ipv6_hdr, portid,
-					qconf->ipv6_lookup_struct);
+	ipv6_hdr = rte_pktmbuf_mtod_offset(m, struct rte_ipv6_hdr *,
+			sizeof(struct rte_ether_hdr));
 
-		if (dst_port >= RTE_MAX_ETHPORTS ||
+	dst_port = em_get_ipv6_dst_port(ipv6_hdr, portid,
+			qconf->ipv6_lookup_struct);
+
+	if (dst_port >= RTE_MAX_ETHPORTS ||
 			(enabled_port_mask & 1 << dst_port) == 0)
-			dst_port = portid;
+		dst_port = portid;
+
+	/* dst addr */
+	*(uint64_t *)&eth_hdr->d_addr = dest_eth_addr[dst_port];
 
-		/* dst addr */
-		*(uint64_t *)&eth_hdr->d_addr = dest_eth_addr[dst_port];
+	/* src addr */
+	rte_ether_addr_copy(&ports_eth_addr[dst_port],
+			&eth_hdr->s_addr);
 
-		/* src addr */
-		rte_ether_addr_copy(&ports_eth_addr[dst_port],
-				&eth_hdr->s_addr);
+	return dst_port;
+}
 
+static __rte_always_inline void
+l3fwd_em_simple_forward(struct rte_mbuf *m, uint16_t portid,
+		struct lcore_conf *qconf)
+{
+	struct rte_ether_hdr *eth_hdr;
+	uint16_t dst_port;
+	uint32_t tcp_or_udp;
+	uint32_t l3_ptypes;
+
+	eth_hdr = rte_pktmbuf_mtod(m, struct rte_ether_hdr *);
+	tcp_or_udp = m->packet_type & (RTE_PTYPE_L4_TCP | RTE_PTYPE_L4_UDP);
+	l3_ptypes = m->packet_type & RTE_PTYPE_L3_MASK;
+
+	if (tcp_or_udp && (l3_ptypes == RTE_PTYPE_L3_IPV4)) {
+		dst_port = l3fwd_em_handle_ipv4(m, portid, eth_hdr, qconf);
+		send_single_packet(qconf, m, dst_port);
+	} else if (tcp_or_udp && (l3_ptypes == RTE_PTYPE_L3_IPV6)) {
+		dst_port = l3fwd_em_handle_ipv6(m, portid, eth_hdr, qconf);
 		send_single_packet(qconf, m, dst_port);
 	} else {
 		/* Free the mbuf that contains non-IPV4/IPV6 packet */
@@ -79,6 +98,25 @@ l3fwd_em_simple_forward(struct rte_mbuf *m, uint16_t portid,
 	}
 }
 
+static __rte_always_inline void
+l3fwd_em_simple_process(struct rte_mbuf *m, struct lcore_conf *qconf)
+{
+	struct rte_ether_hdr *eth_hdr;
+	uint32_t tcp_or_udp;
+	uint32_t l3_ptypes;
+
+	eth_hdr = rte_pktmbuf_mtod(m, struct rte_ether_hdr *);
+	tcp_or_udp = m->packet_type & (RTE_PTYPE_L4_TCP | RTE_PTYPE_L4_UDP);
+	l3_ptypes = m->packet_type & RTE_PTYPE_L3_MASK;
+
+	if (tcp_or_udp && (l3_ptypes == RTE_PTYPE_L3_IPV4))
+		m->port = l3fwd_em_handle_ipv4(m, m->port, eth_hdr, qconf);
+	else if (tcp_or_udp && (l3_ptypes == RTE_PTYPE_L3_IPV6))
+		m->port = l3fwd_em_handle_ipv6(m, m->port, eth_hdr, qconf);
+	else
+		m->port = BAD_PORT;
+}
+
 /*
  * Buffer non-optimized handling of packets, invoked
  * from main_loop.
@@ -108,4 +146,33 @@ l3fwd_em_no_opt_send_packets(int nb_rx, struct rte_mbuf **pkts_burst,
 		l3fwd_em_simple_forward(pkts_burst[j], portid, qconf);
 }
 
+/*
+ * Buffer non-optimized handling of events, invoked
+ * from main_loop.
+ */
+static inline void
+l3fwd_em_no_opt_process_events(int nb_rx, struct rte_event **events,
+			       struct lcore_conf *qconf)
+{
+	int32_t j;
+
+	/* Prefetch first packets */
+	for (j = 0; j < PREFETCH_OFFSET && j < nb_rx; j++)
+		rte_prefetch0(rte_pktmbuf_mtod(events[j]->mbuf, void *));
+
+	/*
+	 * Prefetch and forward already prefetched
+	 * packets.
+	 */
+	for (j = 0; j < (nb_rx - PREFETCH_OFFSET); j++) {
+		rte_prefetch0(rte_pktmbuf_mtod(events[
+				j + PREFETCH_OFFSET]->mbuf, void *));
+		l3fwd_em_simple_process(events[j]->mbuf, qconf);
+	}
+
+	/* Forward remaining prefetched packets */
+	for (; j < nb_rx; j++)
+		l3fwd_em_simple_process(events[j]->mbuf, qconf);
+}
+
 #endif /* __L3FWD_EM_H__ */
diff --git a/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd_em_hlm.h b/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd_em_hlm.h
index ad8b9ce87..79812716c 100644
--- a/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd_em_hlm.h
+++ b/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd_em_hlm.h
@@ -75,6 +75,60 @@ em_get_dst_port_ipv6xN(struct lcore_conf *qconf, struct rte_mbuf *m[],
 	}
 }
 
+static __rte_always_inline void
+em_get_dst_port_ipv4xN_events(struct lcore_conf *qconf, struct rte_mbuf *m[],
+			      uint16_t dst_port[])
+{
+	int i;
+	int32_t ret[EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT];
+	union ipv4_5tuple_host key[EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT];
+	const void *key_array[EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT];
+
+	for (i = 0; i < EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT; i++) {
+		get_ipv4_5tuple(m[i], mask0.x, &key[i]);
+		key_array[i] = &key[i];
+	}
+
+	rte_hash_lookup_bulk(qconf->ipv4_lookup_struct, &key_array[0],
+			     EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT, ret);
+
+	for (i = 0; i < EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT; i++) {
+		dst_port[i] = ((ret[i] < 0) ?
+				m[i]->port : ipv4_l3fwd_out_if[ret[i]]);
+
+		if (dst_port[i] >= RTE_MAX_ETHPORTS ||
+				(enabled_port_mask & 1 << dst_port[i]) == 0)
+			dst_port[i] = m[i]->port;
+	}
+}
+
+static __rte_always_inline void
+em_get_dst_port_ipv6xN_events(struct lcore_conf *qconf, struct rte_mbuf *m[],
+			      uint16_t dst_port[])
+{
+	int i;
+	int32_t ret[EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT];
+	union ipv6_5tuple_host key[EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT];
+	const void *key_array[EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT];
+
+	for (i = 0; i < EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT; i++) {
+		get_ipv6_5tuple(m[i], mask1.x, mask2.x, &key[i]);
+		key_array[i] = &key[i];
+	}
+
+	rte_hash_lookup_bulk(qconf->ipv6_lookup_struct, &key_array[0],
+			     EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT, ret);
+
+	for (i = 0; i < EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT; i++) {
+		dst_port[i] = ((ret[i] < 0) ?
+				m[i]->port : ipv6_l3fwd_out_if[ret[i]]);
+
+		if (dst_port[i] >= RTE_MAX_ETHPORTS ||
+				(enabled_port_mask & 1 << dst_port[i]) == 0)
+			dst_port[i] = m[i]->port;
+	}
+}
+
 static __rte_always_inline uint16_t
 em_get_dst_port(const struct lcore_conf *qconf, struct rte_mbuf *pkt,
 		uint16_t portid)
@@ -187,4 +241,81 @@ l3fwd_em_send_packets(int nb_rx, struct rte_mbuf **pkts_burst,
 	send_packets_multi(qconf, pkts_burst, dst_port, nb_rx);
 
 }
+
+/*
+ * Buffer optimized handling of events, invoked
+ * from main_loop.
+ */
+static inline void
+l3fwd_em_process_events(int nb_rx, struct rte_event **ev,
+		     struct lcore_conf *qconf)
+{
+	int32_t i, j, pos;
+	uint16_t dst_port[MAX_PKT_BURST];
+	struct rte_mbuf *pkts_burst[MAX_PKT_BURST];
+
+	/*
+	 * Send nb_rx - nb_rx % EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT packets
+	 * in groups of EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT.
+	 */
+	int32_t n = RTE_ALIGN_FLOOR(nb_rx, EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT);
+
+	for (j = 0; j < EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT && j < nb_rx; j++) {
+		pkts_burst[j] = ev[j]->mbuf;
+		rte_prefetch0(rte_pktmbuf_mtod(pkts_burst[j],
+					       struct rte_ether_hdr *) + 1);
+	}
+
+	for (j = 0; j < n; j += EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT) {
+
+		uint32_t pkt_type = RTE_PTYPE_L3_MASK |
+				    RTE_PTYPE_L4_TCP | RTE_PTYPE_L4_UDP;
+		uint32_t l3_type, tcp_or_udp;
+
+		for (i = 0; i < EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT; i++)
+			pkt_type &= pkts_burst[j + i]->packet_type;
+
+		l3_type = pkt_type & RTE_PTYPE_L3_MASK;
+		tcp_or_udp = pkt_type & (RTE_PTYPE_L4_TCP | RTE_PTYPE_L4_UDP);
+
+		for (i = 0, pos = j + EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT;
+		     i < EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT && pos < nb_rx; i++, pos++) {
+			rte_prefetch0(rte_pktmbuf_mtod(
+					pkts_burst[pos],
+					struct rte_ether_hdr *) + 1);
+		}
+
+		if (tcp_or_udp && (l3_type == RTE_PTYPE_L3_IPV4)) {
+
+			em_get_dst_port_ipv4xN_events(qconf, &pkts_burst[j],
+					       &dst_port[j]);
+
+		} else if (tcp_or_udp && (l3_type == RTE_PTYPE_L3_IPV6)) {
+
+			em_get_dst_port_ipv6xN_events(qconf, &pkts_burst[j],
+					       &dst_port[j]);
+
+		} else {
+			for (i = 0; i < EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT; i++) {
+				pkts_burst[j + i]->port = em_get_dst_port(qconf,
+						pkts_burst[j + i],
+						pkts_burst[j + i]->port);
+				process_packet(pkts_burst[j + i],
+						&pkts_burst[j + i]->port);
+			}
+			continue;
+		}
+		processx4_step3(&pkts_burst[j], &dst_port[j]);
+
+		for (i = 0; i < EM_HASH_LOOKUP_COUNT; i++)
+			pkts_burst[j + i]->port = dst_port[j + i];
+
+	}
+
+	for (; j < nb_rx; j++) {
+		pkts_burst[j]->port = em_get_dst_port(qconf, pkts_burst[j],
+						      pkts_burst[j]->port);
+		process_packet(pkts_burst[j], &pkts_burst[j]->port);
+	}
+}
 #endif /* __L3FWD_EM_HLM_H__ */
diff --git a/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd_em_sequential.h b/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd_em_sequential.h
index 23fe9dec8..b231b9994 100644
--- a/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd_em_sequential.h
+++ b/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd_em_sequential.h
@@ -95,4 +95,30 @@ l3fwd_em_send_packets(int nb_rx, struct rte_mbuf **pkts_burst,
 
 	send_packets_multi(qconf, pkts_burst, dst_port, nb_rx);
 }
+
+/*
+ * Buffer optimized handling of events, invoked
+ * from main_loop.
+ */
+static inline void
+l3fwd_em_process_events(int nb_rx, struct rte_event **events,
+		     struct lcore_conf *qconf)
+{
+	int32_t i, j;
+
+	rte_prefetch0(rte_pktmbuf_mtod(events[0]->mbuf,
+		      struct rte_ether_hdr *) + 1);
+
+	for (i = 1, j = 0; j < nb_rx; i++, j++) {
+		struct rte_mbuf *mbuf = events[j]->mbuf;
+
+		if (i < nb_rx) {
+			rte_prefetch0(rte_pktmbuf_mtod(
+					events[i]->mbuf,
+					struct rte_ether_hdr *) + 1);
+		}
+		mbuf->port = em_get_dst_port(qconf, mbuf, mbuf->port);
+		process_packet(mbuf, &mbuf->port);
+	}
+}
 #endif /* __L3FWD_EM_SEQUENTIAL_H__ */
diff --git a/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd_event.c b/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd_event.c
index c7de046e3..9fea11bd9 100644
--- a/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd_event.c
+++ b/examples/l3fwd/l3fwd_event.c
@@ -241,6 +241,12 @@ l3fwd_event_resource_setup(struct rte_eth_conf *port_conf)
 		[1][0] = lpm_event_main_loop_tx_q,
 		[1][1] = lpm_event_main_loop_tx_q_burst,
 	};
+	const event_loop_cb em_event_loop[2][2] = {
+		[0][0] = em_event_main_loop_tx_d,
+		[0][1] = em_event_main_loop_tx_d_burst,
+		[1][0] = em_event_main_loop_tx_q,
+		[1][1] = em_event_main_loop_tx_q_burst,
+	};
 	uint32_t event_queue_cfg;
 	int ret;
 
@@ -277,4 +283,7 @@ l3fwd_event_resource_setup(struct rte_eth_conf *port_conf)
 
 	evt_rsrc->ops.lpm_event_loop = lpm_event_loop[evt_rsrc->tx_mode_q]
 						       [evt_rsrc->has_burst];
+
+	evt_rsrc->ops.em_event_loop = em_event_loop[evt_rsrc->tx_mode_q]
+						       [evt_rsrc->has_burst];
 }
diff --git a/examples/l3fwd/main.c b/examples/l3fwd/main.c
index b88fd88db..0ae64dd41 100644
--- a/examples/l3fwd/main.c
+++ b/examples/l3fwd/main.c
@@ -960,7 +960,10 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	/* Configure eventdev parameters if user has requested */
 	l3fwd_event_resource_setup(&port_conf);
 	if (evt_rsrc->enabled) {
-		l3fwd_lkp.main_loop = evt_rsrc->ops.lpm_event_loop;
+		if (l3fwd_em_on)
+			l3fwd_lkp.main_loop = evt_rsrc->ops.em_event_loop;
+		else
+			l3fwd_lkp.main_loop = evt_rsrc->ops.lpm_event_loop;
 		goto skip_port_config;
 	}
 
