diff --git a/src/plugins/dpdk/device/format.c b/src/plugins/dpdk/device/format.c
index 1fd609a..0e612c6 100644
--- a/src/plugins/dpdk/device/format.c
+++ b/src/plugins/dpdk/device/format.c
@@ -608,10 +608,9 @@
   dpdk_main_t *dm = &dpdk_main;
   dpdk_device_t *xd = vec_elt_at_index (dm->devices, t->device_index);
   u32 indent = format_get_indent (s);
-  vnet_sw_interface_t *sw = vnet_get_sw_interface (vnm, xd->sw_if_index);
 
-  s = format (s, "%U tx queue %d",
-	      format_vnet_sw_interface_name, vnm, sw, t->queue_index);
+  s = format (s, "%U tx queue %d", format_vnet_sw_if_index_name, vnm,
+	      xd->sw_if_index, t->queue_index);
 
   s = format (s, "\n%Ubuffer 0x%x: %U", format_white_space, indent,
 	      t->buffer_index, format_vnet_buffer_no_chain, &t->buffer);
@@ -638,10 +637,9 @@
   dpdk_device_t *xd = vec_elt_at_index (dm->devices, t->device_index);
   format_function_t *f;
   u32 indent = format_get_indent (s);
-  vnet_sw_interface_t *sw = vnet_get_sw_interface (vnm, xd->sw_if_index);
 
-  s = format (s, "%U rx queue %d",
-	      format_vnet_sw_interface_name, vnm, sw, t->queue_index);
+  s = format (s, "%U rx queue %d", format_vnet_sw_if_index_name, vnm,
+	      xd->sw_if_index, t->queue_index);
 
   s = format (s, "\n%Ubuffer 0x%x: %U", format_white_space, indent,
 	      t->buffer_index, format_vnet_buffer_no_chain, &t->buffer);
diff --git a/src/plugins/l2tp/l2tp.c b/src/plugins/l2tp/l2tp.c
index a975fa7..308c0f1 100644
--- a/src/plugins/l2tp/l2tp.c
+++ b/src/plugins/l2tp/l2tp.c
@@ -53,12 +53,10 @@
   vlib_counter_t v;
 
   s = format (s, "[%d] %U (our) %U (client) %U (sw_if_index %d)\n",
-	      session - lm->sessions,
-	      format_ip6_address, &session->our_address,
-	      format_ip6_address, &session->client_address,
-	      format_vnet_sw_interface_name, lm->vnet_main,
-	      vnet_get_sw_interface (lm->vnet_main, session->sw_if_index),
-	      session->sw_if_index);
+	      session - lm->sessions, format_ip6_address,
+	      &session->our_address, format_ip6_address,
+	      &session->client_address, format_vnet_sw_if_index_name,
+	      lm->vnet_main, session->sw_if_index, session->sw_if_index);
 
   s = format (s, "   local cookies %016llx %016llx remote cookie %016llx\n",
 	      clib_net_to_host_u64 (session->local_cookie[0]),
diff --git a/src/plugins/lb/cli.c b/src/plugins/lb/cli.c
index 31152cd..afa73ef 100644
--- a/src/plugins/lb/cli.c
+++ b/src/plugins/lb/cli.c
@@ -447,24 +447,22 @@
         {
           if (lb_nat4_interface_add_del (*sw_if_index, is_del))
             {
-              error = clib_error_return(
-                  0, "%s %U failed", is_del ? "del" : "add",
-                  format_vnet_sw_interface_name, vnm,
-                  vnet_get_sw_interface (vnm, *sw_if_index));
-              goto done;
-            }
-        }
+	      error = clib_error_return (
+		0, "%s %U failed", is_del ? "del" : "add",
+		format_vnet_sw_if_index_name, vnm, *sw_if_index);
+	      goto done;
+	    }
+	}
       else
         {
           if (lb_nat6_interface_add_del (*sw_if_index, is_del))
             {
-              error = clib_error_return(
-                  0, "%s %U failed", is_del ? "del" : "add",
-                  format_vnet_sw_interface_name, vnm,
-                  vnet_get_sw_interface (vnm, *sw_if_index));
-              goto done;
-            }
-        }
+	      error = clib_error_return (
+		0, "%s %U failed", is_del ? "del" : "add",
+		format_vnet_sw_if_index_name, vnm, *sw_if_index);
+	      goto done;
+	    }
+	}
     }
 
 done:
diff --git a/src/plugins/lisp/lisp-gpe/lisp_gpe_sub_interface.c b/src/plugins/lisp/lisp-gpe/lisp_gpe_sub_interface.c
index b40ed2e..c316f6c 100644
--- a/src/plugins/lisp/lisp-gpe/lisp_gpe_sub_interface.c
+++ b/src/plugins/lisp/lisp-gpe/lisp_gpe_sub_interface.c
@@ -224,9 +224,7 @@
   lisp_gpe_sub_interface_t *l3s = va_arg (*ap, lisp_gpe_sub_interface_t *);
   vnet_main_t *vnm = vnet_get_main ();
 
-  s = format (s, "%-16U",
-	      format_vnet_sw_interface_name,
-	      vnm, vnet_get_sw_interface (vnm, l3s->sw_if_index));
+  s = format (s, "%-16U", format_vnet_sw_if_index_name, vnm, l3s->sw_if_index);
   s = format (s, "%=8d", l3s->key->vni);
   s = format (s, "%=15d", l3s->sw_if_index);
   s = format (s, "%U", format_ip_address, &l3s->key->local_rloc);
diff --git a/src/vnet/dpo/dvr_dpo.c b/src/vnet/dpo/dvr_dpo.c
index 5db9c80..2b66467 100644
--- a/src/vnet/dpo/dvr_dpo.c
+++ b/src/vnet/dpo/dvr_dpo.c
@@ -206,12 +206,9 @@
     vnet_main_t * vnm = vnet_get_main();
     dvr_dpo_t *dd = dvr_dpo_get(index);
 
-    return (format(s, "%U-dvr-%U-dpo %U",
-                   format_dpo_proto, dd->dd_proto,
-                   format_vnet_sw_interface_name,
-                   vnm,
-                   vnet_get_sw_interface(vnm, dd->dd_sw_if_index),
-                   format_dvr_reinject, dd->dd_reinject));
+    return format (s, "%U-dvr-%U-dpo %U", format_dpo_proto, dd->dd_proto,
+		   format_vnet_sw_if_index_name, vnm, dd->dd_sw_if_index,
+		   format_dvr_reinject, dd->dd_reinject);
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/src/vnet/dpo/interface_rx_dpo.c b/src/vnet/dpo/interface_rx_dpo.c
index d3615d0..5a519d3 100644
--- a/src/vnet/dpo/interface_rx_dpo.c
+++ b/src/vnet/dpo/interface_rx_dpo.c
@@ -160,11 +160,8 @@
     vnet_main_t * vnm = vnet_get_main();
     interface_rx_dpo_t *ido = interface_rx_dpo_get(index);
 
-    return (format(s, "%U-rx-dpo: %U",
-                   format_vnet_sw_interface_name,
-                   vnm,
-                   vnet_get_sw_interface(vnm, ido->ido_sw_if_index),
-                   format_dpo_proto, ido->ido_proto));
+    return format (s, "%U-rx-dpo: %U", format_vnet_sw_if_index_name, vnm,
+		   ido->ido_sw_if_index, format_dpo_proto, ido->ido_proto);
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/src/vnet/dpo/interface_tx_dpo.c b/src/vnet/dpo/interface_tx_dpo.c
index 8705798..73f4e90 100644
--- a/src/vnet/dpo/interface_tx_dpo.c
+++ b/src/vnet/dpo/interface_tx_dpo.c
@@ -50,10 +50,7 @@
     CLIB_UNUSED(u32 indent) = va_arg(*ap, u32);
     vnet_main_t * vnm = vnet_get_main();
 
-    return (format(s, "%U-tx-dpo:",
-                   format_vnet_sw_interface_name,
-                   vnm,
-                   vnet_get_sw_interface(vnm, index)));
+    return format (s, "%U-tx-dpo:", format_vnet_sw_if_index_name, vnm, index);
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/src/vnet/dpo/l3_proxy_dpo.c b/src/vnet/dpo/l3_proxy_dpo.c
index 4115630..f89554d 100644
--- a/src/vnet/dpo/l3_proxy_dpo.c
+++ b/src/vnet/dpo/l3_proxy_dpo.c
@@ -116,9 +116,8 @@
 
     if (~0 != l3p->l3p_sw_if_index)
     {
-        return (format(s, "dpo-l3_proxy: %U",
-                       format_vnet_sw_interface_name, vnm,
-                       vnet_get_sw_interface(vnm, l3p->l3p_sw_if_index)));
+      return (format (s, "dpo-l3_proxy: %U", format_vnet_sw_if_index_name, vnm,
+		      l3p->l3p_sw_if_index));
     }
     else
     {
diff --git a/src/vnet/dpo/receive_dpo.c b/src/vnet/dpo/receive_dpo.c
index 0a97e1d..413c3ae 100644
--- a/src/vnet/dpo/receive_dpo.c
+++ b/src/vnet/dpo/receive_dpo.c
@@ -122,10 +122,9 @@
 
     if (~0 != rd->rd_sw_if_index)
     {
-        return (format(s, "dpo-receive: %U on %U",
-                       format_ip46_address, &rd->rd_addr, IP46_TYPE_ANY,
-                       format_vnet_sw_interface_name, vnm,
-                       vnet_get_sw_interface(vnm, rd->rd_sw_if_index)));
+      return (format (s, "dpo-receive: %U on %U", format_ip46_address,
+		      &rd->rd_addr, IP46_TYPE_ANY,
+		      format_vnet_sw_if_index_name, vnm, rd->rd_sw_if_index));
     }
     else
     {
diff --git a/src/vnet/fib/fib_path.c b/src/vnet/fib/fib_path.c
index ee2cc8e..95e7cb6 100644
--- a/src/vnet/fib/fib_path.c
+++ b/src/vnet/fib/fib_path.c
@@ -530,11 +530,8 @@
 	else
 	{
 	    s = format (s, " %U",
-			format_vnet_sw_interface_name,
-			vnm,
-			vnet_get_sw_interface(
-			    vnm,
-			    path->attached.fp_interface));
+			format_vnet_sw_if_index_name,
+			vnm, path->attached.fp_interface);
 	}
 	break;
     case FIB_PATH_TYPE_RECURSIVE:
@@ -585,11 +582,8 @@
         break;
     case FIB_PATH_TYPE_DVR:
         s = format (s, " %U",
-                    format_vnet_sw_interface_name,
-                    vnm,
-                    vnet_get_sw_interface(
-                        vnm,
-                        path->dvr.fp_interface));
+                    format_vnet_sw_if_index_name,
+                    vnm, path->dvr.fp_interface);
         break;
     case FIB_PATH_TYPE_DEAG:
         s = format (s, " %sfib-index:%d",
diff --git a/src/vnet/ip/ip6_link.c b/src/vnet/ip/ip6_link.c
index afa9d8e..544a7c3 100644
--- a/src/vnet/ip/ip6_link.c
+++ b/src/vnet/ip/ip6_link.c
@@ -594,11 +594,10 @@
   if (!ip6_link_is_enabled_i (il))
     return (s);
 
-  s = format (s, "%U is admin %s\n",
-	      format_vnet_sw_interface_name, vnm,
-	      vnet_get_sw_interface (vnm, il->il_sw_if_index),
-	      (vnet_sw_interface_is_admin_up (vnm, il->il_sw_if_index) ?
-	       "up" : "down"));
+  s = format (
+    s, "%U is admin %s\n", format_vnet_sw_if_index_name, vnm,
+    il->il_sw_if_index,
+    (vnet_sw_interface_is_admin_up (vnm, il->il_sw_if_index) ? "up" : "down"));
 
   u32 ai;
   u32 *link_scope = 0, *global_scope = 0;
diff --git a/src/vnet/ip/ip6_ll_table.c b/src/vnet/ip/ip6_ll_table.c
index 3dc2517..331f3f3 100644
--- a/src/vnet/ip/ip6_ll_table.c
+++ b/src/vnet/ip/ip6_ll_table.c
@@ -52,9 +52,8 @@
   vnet_main_t *vnm = vnet_get_main ();
   u8 *desc;
 
-  desc = format (NULL, "IP6-link-local:%U",
-		 format_vnet_sw_interface_name,
-		 vnm, vnet_get_sw_interface (vnm, sw_if_index));
+  desc = format (NULL, "IP6-link-local:%U", format_vnet_sw_if_index_name, vnm,
+		 sw_if_index);
 
   ip6_ll_table.ilt_fibs[sw_if_index] =
     ip6_fib_table_create_and_lock (FIB_SOURCE_IP6_ND,
diff --git a/src/vnet/ip/ip6_ll_types.c b/src/vnet/ip/ip6_ll_types.c
index a7ac164..b074b6e 100644
--- a/src/vnet/ip/ip6_ll_types.c
+++ b/src/vnet/ip/ip6_ll_types.c
@@ -23,10 +23,8 @@
   ip6_ll_prefix_t *ilp = va_arg (*args, ip6_ll_prefix_t *);
   vnet_main_t *vnm = vnet_get_main ();
 
-  s = format (s, "(%U, %U)",
-	      format_ip6_address, &ilp->ilp_addr,
-	      format_vnet_sw_interface_name,
-	      vnm, vnet_get_sw_interface (vnm, ilp->ilp_sw_if_index));
+  s = format (s, "(%U, %U)", format_ip6_address, &ilp->ilp_addr,
+	      format_vnet_sw_if_index_name, vnm, ilp->ilp_sw_if_index);
 
   return (s);
 }
diff --git a/src/vnet/ip/ip_punt_drop.c b/src/vnet/ip/ip_punt_drop.c
index bf01ada..dc113f5 100644
--- a/src/vnet/ip/ip_punt_drop.c
+++ b/src/vnet/ip/ip_punt_drop.c
@@ -143,9 +143,8 @@
 
     rx = ip_punt_redirect_get (rxs[rx_sw_if_index]);
 
-    s = format (s, " rx %U via:\n",
-		format_vnet_sw_interface_name, vnm,
-		vnet_get_sw_interface (vnm, rx_sw_if_index));
+    s = format (s, " rx %U via:\n", format_vnet_sw_if_index_name, vnm,
+		rx_sw_if_index);
     s = format (s, " %U", format_fib_path_list, rx->pl, 2);
     s = format (s, " forwarding\n", format_dpo_id, &rx->dpo, 0);
     s = format (s, "  %U\n", format_dpo_id, &rx->dpo, 0);
diff --git a/src/vnet/l2/l2_fib.c b/src/vnet/l2/l2_fib.c
index ad301af..efcc640 100644
--- a/src/vnet/l2/l2_fib.c
+++ b/src/vnet/l2/l2_fib.c
@@ -95,8 +95,7 @@
   if (!swif)
     return format (s, "Stale");
 
-  return format (s, "%U", format_vnet_sw_interface_name, vnm,
-		 vnet_get_sw_interface_or_null (vnm, sw_if_index));
+  return format (s, "%U", format_vnet_sw_if_index_name, vnm, sw_if_index);
 }
 
 typedef struct l2fib_dump_walk_ctx_t_
diff --git a/src/vnet/mfib/mfib_itf.c b/src/vnet/mfib/mfib_itf.c
index b323d3e..e65a6d7 100644
--- a/src/vnet/mfib/mfib_itf.c
+++ b/src/vnet/mfib/mfib_itf.c
@@ -206,10 +206,8 @@
     if (~0 != mfib_itf->mfi_sw_if_index)
     {
         return (format(s, " %U: %U",
-                       format_vnet_sw_interface_name,
-                       vnm,
-                       vnet_get_sw_interface(vnm,
-                                             mfib_itf->mfi_sw_if_index),
+                       format_vnet_sw_if_index_name,
+                       vnm, mfib_itf->mfi_sw_if_index,
                        format_mfib_itf_flags, mfib_itf->mfi_flags));
     }
     else