Abstract: Aspects and implementations of the present disclosure are directed to methods and systems for a network tolerant to a network device that is temporarily absent from the control plane. In one aspect, in general, the system includes an event manager configured to send, to a controller configured to exchange control messages with a network device, a first request to temporarily withdraw the network device from control plane interactions. The event manager then triggers an event at the network device during which the network device is non-responsive to control plane interactions. After determining that the event has completed, the event manager sends the controller a second request to restore the network device. The controller is configured to request, responsive to the first request, a network application to transition to a tolerant state; and to request, responsive to the second request, the network application to transition to a sensitive state.