diff --git a/doc/guides/sample_app_ug/dist_app.rst b/doc/guides/sample_app_ug/dist_app.rst
index 3bd03905c3..5c80561187 100644
--- a/doc/guides/sample_app_ug/dist_app.rst
+++ b/doc/guides/sample_app_ug/dist_app.rst
@@ -42,11 +42,12 @@ Running the Application
 
    ..  code-block:: console
 
-       ./<build-dir>/examples/dpdk-distributor [EAL options] -- -p PORTMASK
+       ./<build-dir>/examples/dpdk-distributor [EAL options] -- -p PORTMASK [-c]
 
    where,
 
    *   -p PORTMASK: Hexadecimal bitmask of ports to configure
+   *   -c: Combines the RX core with distribution core
 
 #. To run the application in linux environment with 10 lcores, 4 ports,
    issue the command:
diff --git a/examples/distributor/main.c b/examples/distributor/main.c
index 02bf91f555..6e98f78054 100644
--- a/examples/distributor/main.c
+++ b/examples/distributor/main.c
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ volatile uint8_t quit_signal_rx;
 volatile uint8_t quit_signal_dist;
 volatile uint8_t quit_signal_work;
 unsigned int power_lib_initialised;
+bool enable_lcore_rx_distributor;
 
 static volatile struct app_stats {
 	struct {
@@ -256,14 +257,82 @@ lcore_rx(struct lcore_params *p)
 		}
 		app_stats.rx.rx_pkts += nb_rx;
 
-/*
- * You can run the distributor on the rx core with this code. Returned
- * packets are then send straight to the tx core.
- */
-#if 0
-	rte_distributor_process(d, bufs, nb_rx);
-	const uint16_t nb_ret = rte_distributor_returned_pktsd,
-			bufs, BURST_SIZE*2);
+		/*
+		 * Swap the following two lines if you want the rx traffic
+		 * to go directly to tx, no distribution.
+		 */
+		struct rte_ring *out_ring = p->rx_dist_ring;
+		/* struct rte_ring *out_ring = p->dist_tx_ring; */
+
+		uint16_t sent = rte_ring_enqueue_burst(out_ring,
+				(void *)bufs, nb_rx, NULL);
+
+		app_stats.rx.enqueued_pkts += sent;
+		if (unlikely(sent < nb_rx)) {
+			app_stats.rx.enqdrop_pkts +=  nb_rx - sent;
+			RTE_LOG_DP(DEBUG, DISTRAPP,
+				"%s:Packet loss due to full ring\n", __func__);
+			while (sent < nb_rx)
+				rte_pktmbuf_free(bufs[sent++]);
+		}
+		if (++port == nb_ports)
+			port = 0;
+	}
+	if (power_lib_initialised)
+		rte_power_exit(rte_lcore_id());
+	/* set worker & tx threads quit flag */
+	printf("\nCore %u exiting rx task.\n", rte_lcore_id());
+	quit_signal = 1;
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int
+lcore_rx_and_distributor(struct lcore_params *p)
+{
+	struct rte_distributor *d = p->d;
+	const uint16_t nb_ports = rte_eth_dev_count_avail();
+	const int socket_id = rte_socket_id();
+	uint16_t port;
+	struct rte_mbuf *bufs[BURST_SIZE*2];
+
+	RTE_ETH_FOREACH_DEV(port) {
+		/* skip ports that are not enabled */
+		if ((enabled_port_mask & (1 << port)) == 0)
+			continue;
+
+		if (rte_eth_dev_socket_id(port) > 0 &&
+				rte_eth_dev_socket_id(port) != socket_id)
+			printf("WARNING, port %u is on remote NUMA node to "
+					"RX thread.\n\tPerformance will not "
+					"be optimal.\n", port);
+	}
+
+	printf("\nCore %u doing packet RX and Distributor.\n", rte_lcore_id());
+	port = 0;
+	while (!quit_signal_rx) {
+
+		/* skip ports that are not enabled */
+		if ((enabled_port_mask & (1 << port)) == 0) {
+			if (++port == nb_ports)
+				port = 0;
+			continue;
+		}
+		const uint16_t nb_rx = rte_eth_rx_burst(port, 0, bufs,
+				BURST_SIZE);
+		if (unlikely(nb_rx == 0)) {
+			if (++port == nb_ports)
+				port = 0;
+			continue;
+		}
+		app_stats.rx.rx_pkts += nb_rx;
+
+		/*
+		 * Run the distributor on the rx core. Returned
+		 * packets are then send straight to the tx core.
+		 */
+		rte_distributor_process(d, bufs, nb_rx);
+		const uint16_t nb_ret = rte_distributor_returned_pkts(d,
+				bufs, BURST_SIZE*2);
 
 		app_stats.rx.returned_pkts += nb_ret;
 		if (unlikely(nb_ret == 0)) {
@@ -275,18 +344,6 @@ lcore_rx(struct lcore_params *p)
 		struct rte_ring *tx_ring = p->dist_tx_ring;
 		uint16_t sent = rte_ring_enqueue_burst(tx_ring,
 				(void *)bufs, nb_ret, NULL);
-#else
-		uint16_t nb_ret = nb_rx;
-		/*
-		 * Swap the following two lines if you want the rx traffic
-		 * to go directly to tx, no distribution.
-		 */
-		struct rte_ring *out_ring = p->rx_dist_ring;
-		/* struct rte_ring *out_ring = p->dist_tx_ring; */
-
-		uint16_t sent = rte_ring_enqueue_burst(out_ring,
-				(void *)bufs, nb_ret, NULL);
-#endif
 
 		app_stats.rx.enqueued_pkts += sent;
 		if (unlikely(sent < nb_ret)) {
@@ -475,7 +532,11 @@ print_stats(void)
 {
 	struct rte_eth_stats eth_stats;
 	unsigned int i, j;
-	const unsigned int num_workers = rte_lcore_count() - 4;
+	unsigned int num_workers;
+	if (enable_lcore_rx_distributor)
+		num_workers = rte_lcore_count() - 3;
+	else
+		num_workers = rte_lcore_count() - 4;
 
 	RTE_ETH_FOREACH_DEV(i) {
 		rte_eth_stats_get(i, &eth_stats);
@@ -504,20 +565,22 @@ print_stats(void)
 			prev_app_stats.rx.enqdrop_pkts)/1000000.0,
 			ANSI_COLOR_RESET);
 
-	printf("Distributor thread:\n");
-	printf(" - In:          %5.2f\n",
-			(app_stats.dist.in_pkts -
-			prev_app_stats.dist.in_pkts)/1000000.0);
-	printf(" - Returned:    %5.2f\n",
-			(app_stats.dist.ret_pkts -
-			prev_app_stats.dist.ret_pkts)/1000000.0);
-	printf(" - Sent:        %5.2f\n",
-			(app_stats.dist.sent_pkts -
-			prev_app_stats.dist.sent_pkts)/1000000.0);
-	printf(" - Dropped      %s%5.2f%s\n", ANSI_COLOR_RED,
-			(app_stats.dist.enqdrop_pkts -
-			prev_app_stats.dist.enqdrop_pkts)/1000000.0,
-			ANSI_COLOR_RESET);
+	if (!enable_lcore_rx_distributor) {
+		printf("Distributor thread:\n");
+		printf(" - In:          %5.2f\n",
+				(app_stats.dist.in_pkts -
+				prev_app_stats.dist.in_pkts)/1000000.0);
+		printf(" - Returned:    %5.2f\n",
+				(app_stats.dist.ret_pkts -
+				prev_app_stats.dist.ret_pkts)/1000000.0);
+		printf(" - Sent:        %5.2f\n",
+				(app_stats.dist.sent_pkts -
+				prev_app_stats.dist.sent_pkts)/1000000.0);
+		printf(" - Dropped      %s%5.2f%s\n", ANSI_COLOR_RED,
+				(app_stats.dist.enqdrop_pkts -
+				prev_app_stats.dist.enqdrop_pkts)/1000000.0,
+				ANSI_COLOR_RESET);
+	}
 
 	printf("TX thread:\n");
 	printf(" - Dequeued:    %5.2f\n",
@@ -629,8 +692,9 @@ init_power_library(void)
 static void
 print_usage(const char *prgname)
 {
-	printf("%s [EAL options] -- -p PORTMASK\n"
-			"  -p PORTMASK: hexadecimal bitmask of ports to configure\n",
+	printf("%s [EAL options] -- -p PORTMASK [-c]\n"
+			"  -p PORTMASK: hexadecimal bitmask of ports to configure\n"
+			"  -c: Combines the RX core with the distribution core\n",
 			prgname);
 }
 
@@ -662,7 +726,7 @@ parse_args(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	argvopt = argv;
 
-	while ((opt = getopt_long(argc, argvopt, "p:",
+	while ((opt = getopt_long(argc, argvopt, "cp:",
 			lgopts, &option_index)) != EOF) {
 
 		switch (opt) {
@@ -676,6 +740,10 @@ parse_args(int argc, char **argv)
 			}
 			break;
 
+		case 'c':
+			enable_lcore_rx_distributor = true;
+			break;
+
 		default:
 			print_usage(prgname);
 			return -1;
@@ -705,9 +773,11 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	unsigned int lcore_id, worker_id = 0;
 	int distr_core_id = -1, rx_core_id = -1, tx_core_id = -1;
 	unsigned nb_ports;
+	unsigned int num_workers;
 	uint16_t portid;
 	uint16_t nb_ports_available;
 	uint64_t t, freq;
+	enable_lcore_rx_distributor = false;
 
 	/* catch ctrl-c so we can print on exit */
 	signal(SIGINT, int_handler);
@@ -724,7 +794,12 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	if (ret < 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Invalid distributor parameters\n");
 
-	if (rte_lcore_count() < 5)
+	if (enable_lcore_rx_distributor)
+		num_workers = rte_lcore_count() - 3;
+	else
+		num_workers = rte_lcore_count() - 4;
+
+	if (rte_lcore_count() < 5 && !enable_lcore_rx_distributor)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Error, This application needs at "
 				"least 5 logical cores to run:\n"
 				"1 lcore for stats (can be core 0)\n"
@@ -733,6 +808,15 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 				"1 lcore for packet TX\n"
 				"and at least 1 lcore for worker threads\n");
 
+	if (rte_lcore_count() < 4 && enable_lcore_rx_distributor)
+		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Error, This application needs at "
+				"least 4 logical cores to run:\n"
+				"1 lcore for stats (can be core 0)\n"
+				"1 lcore for packet RX and distribution\n"
+				"1 lcore for packet TX\n"
+				"and at least 1 lcore for worker threads\n");
+
+
 	if (init_power_library() == 0)
 		power_lib_initialised = 1;
 
@@ -772,7 +856,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	}
 
 	d = rte_distributor_create("PKT_DIST", rte_socket_id(),
-			rte_lcore_count() - 4,
+			num_workers,
 			RTE_DIST_ALG_BURST);
 	if (d == NULL)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot create distributor\n");
@@ -808,7 +892,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 			if (lcore_cap.priority != 1)
 				continue;
 
-			if (distr_core_id < 0) {
+			if (distr_core_id < 0 && !enable_lcore_rx_distributor) {
 				distr_core_id = lcore_id;
 				printf("Distributor on priority core %d\n",
 					lcore_id);
@@ -839,7 +923,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 				lcore_id == (unsigned int)rx_core_id ||
 				lcore_id == (unsigned int)tx_core_id)
 			continue;
-		if (distr_core_id < 0) {
+		if (distr_core_id < 0 && !enable_lcore_rx_distributor) {
 			distr_core_id = lcore_id;
 			printf("Distributor on core %d\n", lcore_id);
 			continue;
@@ -856,7 +940,12 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		}
 	}
 
-	printf(" tx id %d, dist id %d, rx id %d\n",
+	if (enable_lcore_rx_distributor)
+		printf(" tx id %d, rx id %d\n",
+			tx_core_id,
+			rx_core_id);
+	else
+		printf(" tx id %d, dist id %d, rx id %d\n",
 			tx_core_id,
 			distr_core_id,
 			rx_core_id);
@@ -888,15 +977,16 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 			dist_tx_ring, tx_core_id);
 
 	/* Start distributor core */
-	struct lcore_params *pd =
-		rte_malloc(NULL, sizeof(*pd), 0);
-	if (!pd)
-		rte_panic("malloc failure\n");
-	*pd = (struct lcore_params){worker_id++, d,
-		rx_dist_ring, dist_tx_ring, mbuf_pool};
-	rte_eal_remote_launch(
-			(lcore_function_t *)lcore_distributor,
-			pd, distr_core_id);
+	struct lcore_params *pd;
+	if (!enable_lcore_rx_distributor) {
+		pd = rte_malloc(NULL, sizeof(*pd), 0);
+		if (!pd)
+			rte_panic("malloc failure\n");
+		*pd = (struct lcore_params){worker_id++, d,
+			rx_dist_ring, dist_tx_ring, mbuf_pool};
+		rte_eal_remote_launch((lcore_function_t *)lcore_distributor,
+				pd, distr_core_id);
+	}
 
 	/* Start rx core */
 	struct lcore_params *pr =
@@ -905,8 +995,12 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		rte_panic("malloc failure\n");
 	*pr = (struct lcore_params){worker_id++, d, rx_dist_ring,
 		dist_tx_ring, mbuf_pool};
-	rte_eal_remote_launch((lcore_function_t *)lcore_rx,
-			pr, rx_core_id);
+	if (enable_lcore_rx_distributor)
+		rte_eal_remote_launch((lcore_function_t *)lcore_rx_and_distributor,
+				pr, rx_core_id);
+	else
+		rte_eal_remote_launch((lcore_function_t *)lcore_rx,
+				pr, rx_core_id);
 
 	freq = rte_get_timer_hz();
 	t = rte_rdtsc() + freq;
@@ -925,7 +1019,8 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	print_stats();
 
-	rte_free(pd);
+	if (!enable_lcore_rx_distributor)
+		rte_free(pd);
 	rte_free(pr);
 
 	/* clean up the EAL */
