diff --git a/src/vlib/node_funcs.h b/src/vlib/node_funcs.h
index 5b4d2a4..62a1fec 100644
--- a/src/vlib/node_funcs.h
+++ b/src/vlib/node_funcs.h
@@ -372,16 +372,34 @@
 					    u32 next_index,
 					    u32 alloc_new_frame);
 
-#define vlib_get_next_frame_macro(vm,node,next_index,vectors,n_vectors_left,alloc_new_frame) \
-do {									\
-  vlib_frame_t * _f							\
-    = vlib_get_next_frame_internal ((vm), (node), (next_index),		\
-				    (alloc_new_frame));			\
-  u32 _n = _f->n_vectors;						\
-  (vectors) = vlib_frame_vector_args (_f) + _n * sizeof ((vectors)[0]); \
-  (n_vectors_left) = VLIB_FRAME_SIZE - _n;				\
-} while (0)
+#define vlib_get_next_frame_macro(vm, node, next_index, vectors,              \
+				  n_vectors_left, alloc_new_frame)            \
+  do                                                                          \
+    {                                                                         \
+      vlib_frame_t *_f = vlib_get_next_frame_internal (                       \
+	(vm), (node), (next_index), (alloc_new_frame));                       \
+      u32 _n = _f->n_vectors;                                                 \
+      (vectors) = vlib_frame_vector_args (_f) + _n * sizeof ((vectors)[0]);   \
+      (n_vectors_left) = VLIB_FRAME_SIZE - _n;                                \
+    }                                                                         \
+  while (0)
 
+#define vlib_get_next_frame_macro_with_aux(vm, node, next_index, vectors,     \
+					   n_vectors_left, alloc_new_frame,   \
+					   aux_data, maybe_no_aux)            \
+  do                                                                          \
+    {                                                                         \
+      vlib_frame_t *_f = vlib_get_next_frame_internal (                       \
+	(vm), (node), (next_index), (alloc_new_frame));                       \
+      u32 _n = _f->n_vectors;                                                 \
+      (vectors) = vlib_frame_vector_args (_f) + _n * sizeof ((vectors)[0]);   \
+      if ((maybe_no_aux) && (_f)->aux_offset == 0)                            \
+	(aux_data) = NULL;                                                    \
+      else                                                                    \
+	(aux_data) = vlib_frame_aux_args (_f) + _n * sizeof ((aux_data)[0]);  \
+      (n_vectors_left) = VLIB_FRAME_SIZE - _n;                                \
+    }                                                                         \
+  while (0)
 
 /** \brief Get pointer to next frame vector data by
     (@c vlib_node_runtime_t, @c next_index).
@@ -395,16 +413,69 @@
  @return @c vectors -- pointer to next available vector slot
  @return @c n_vectors_left -- number of vector slots available
 */
-#define vlib_get_next_frame(vm,node,next_index,vectors,n_vectors_left)	\
-  vlib_get_next_frame_macro (vm, node, next_index,			\
-			     vectors, n_vectors_left,			\
+#define vlib_get_next_frame(vm, node, next_index, vectors, n_vectors_left)    \
+  vlib_get_next_frame_macro (vm, node, next_index, vectors, n_vectors_left,   \
 			     /* alloc new frame */ 0)
 
-#define vlib_get_new_next_frame(vm,node,next_index,vectors,n_vectors_left) \
-  vlib_get_next_frame_macro (vm, node, next_index,			\
-			     vectors, n_vectors_left,			\
+#define vlib_get_new_next_frame(vm, node, next_index, vectors,                \
+				n_vectors_left)                               \
+  vlib_get_next_frame_macro (vm, node, next_index, vectors, n_vectors_left,   \
 			     /* alloc new frame */ 1)
 
+/** \brief Get pointer to next frame vector data and next frame aux data by
+    (@c vlib_node_runtime_t, @c next_index).
+ Standard single/dual loop boilerplate element.
+ @attention This is a MACRO, with SIDE EFFECTS.
+ @attention This MACRO is unsafe in case the next node does not support
+ aux_data
+
+ @param vm vlib_main_t pointer, varies by thread
+ @param node current node vlib_node_runtime_t pointer
+ @param next_index requested graph arc index
+
+ @return @c vectors -- pointer to next available vector slot
+ @return @c aux_data -- pointer to next available aux data slot
+ @return @c n_vectors_left -- number of vector slots available
+*/
+#define vlib_get_next_frame_with_aux(vm, node, next_index, vectors, aux_data, \
+				     n_vectors_left)                          \
+  vlib_get_next_frame_macro_with_aux (                                        \
+    vm, node, next_index, vectors, n_vectors_left, /* alloc new frame */ 0,   \
+    aux_data, /* maybe_no_aux */ 0)
+
+#define vlib_get_new_next_frame_with_aux(vm, node, next_index, vectors,       \
+					 aux_data, n_vectors_left)            \
+  vlib_get_next_frame_macro_with_aux (                                        \
+    vm, node, next_index, vectors, n_vectors_left, /* alloc new frame */ 1,   \
+    aux_data, /* maybe_no_aux */ 0)
+
+/** \brief Get pointer to next frame vector data and next frame aux data by
+    (@c vlib_node_runtime_t, @c next_index).
+ Standard single/dual loop boilerplate element.
+ @attention This is a MACRO, with SIDE EFFECTS.
+ @attention This MACRO is safe in case the next node does not support aux_data.
+ In that case aux_data is set to NULL.
+
+ @param vm vlib_main_t pointer, varies by thread
+ @param node current node vlib_node_runtime_t pointer
+ @param next_index requested graph arc index
+
+ @return @c vectors -- pointer to next available vector slot
+ @return @c aux_data -- pointer to next available aux data slot
+ @return @c n_vectors_left -- number of vector slots available
+*/
+#define vlib_get_next_frame_with_aux_safe(vm, node, next_index, vectors,      \
+					  aux_data, n_vectors_left)           \
+  vlib_get_next_frame_macro_with_aux (                                        \
+    vm, node, next_index, vectors, n_vectors_left, /* alloc new frame */ 0,   \
+    aux_data, /* maybe_no_aux */ 1)
+
+#define vlib_get_new_next_frame_with_aux_safe(vm, node, next_index, vectors,  \
+					      aux_data, n_vectors_left)       \
+  vlib_get_next_frame_macro_with_aux (                                        \
+    vm, node, next_index, vectors, n_vectors_left, /* alloc new frame */ 1,   \
+    aux_data, /* maybe_no_aux */ 1)
+
 /** \brief Release pointer to next frame vector data.
  Standard single/dual loop boilerplate element.
  @param vm vlib_main_t pointer, varies by thread