Abstract: When a request to branch to an address stored in a return memory location (440) occurs, a busy bit is used to determine whether the return memory location (440) contains updated information. When the information is not updated, a predicted address is provided to the prediction verifier (460) by the link stack (410). Once the busy bit is valid, the prediction verifier (460) determines if a proper prediction was made. When an improper prediction was made, the update portion (415) of the link stack (410) based on information from the comparator (425) determines if a value stored in the link stack (410) matches the value stored in the return memory location (440). The link stack (410) is synchronized based upon a favorable comparison indicating the return memory location value matches a value in the link stack. If a match is not found, the predicted address is placed back on the link stack or alternatively the link stack is cleared.