diff --git a/app/test/test_hash_scaling.c b/app/test/test_hash_scaling.c
index 39602cb..e7cb7e2 100644
--- a/app/test/test_hash_scaling.c
+++ b/app/test/test_hash_scaling.c
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ test_hash_scaling(int locking_mode)
 		.hash_func = rte_hash_crc,
 		.hash_func_init_val = 0,
 		.socket_id = rte_socket_id(),
+		.extra_flag = 1 << RTE_HASH_TRANS_MEM_SUPPORT_FLAG,
 	};
 	struct rte_hash *handle;
 	char name[RTE_HASH_NAMESIZE];
diff --git a/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_2_2.rst b/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_2_2.rst
index 834ac43..8727d63 100644
--- a/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_2_2.rst
+++ b/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_2_2.rst
@@ -56,6 +56,11 @@ Drivers
 
   Fixed issue when releasing null control queue.
 
+* **hash: Fixed thread scaling by reducing contention.**
+
+  Fixed issue in hash library where, using multiple cores with
+  hardware transactional memory support, thread scaling did not work,
+  due to the global ring that is shared by all cores.
 
 Libraries
 ~~~~~~~~~
diff --git a/lib/librte_hash/rte_cuckoo_hash.c b/lib/librte_hash/rte_cuckoo_hash.c
index 409fc2e..43788a4 100644
--- a/lib/librte_hash/rte_cuckoo_hash.c
+++ b/lib/librte_hash/rte_cuckoo_hash.c
@@ -96,8 +96,15 @@ EAL_REGISTER_TAILQ(rte_hash_tailq)
 
 #define KEY_ALIGNMENT			16
 
+#define LCORE_CACHE_SIZE		8
+
 typedef int (*rte_hash_cmp_eq_t)(const void *key1, const void *key2, size_t key_len);
 
+struct lcore_cache {
+	unsigned len; /**< Cache len */
+	void *objs[LCORE_CACHE_SIZE]; /**< Cache objects */
+} __rte_cache_aligned;
+
 /** A hash table structure. */
 struct rte_hash {
 	char name[RTE_HASH_NAMESIZE];   /**< Name of the hash. */
@@ -117,6 +124,10 @@ struct rte_hash {
 	struct rte_hash_bucket *buckets;	/**< Table with buckets storing all the
 							hash values and key indexes
 							to the key table*/
+	uint8_t hw_trans_mem_support;	/**< Hardware transactional
+							memory support */
+	struct lcore_cache *local_free_slots;
+	/**< Local cache per lcore, storing some indexes of the free slots */
 } __rte_cache_aligned;
 
 /* Structure storing both primary and secondary hashes */
@@ -183,6 +194,8 @@ rte_hash_create(const struct rte_hash_parameters *params)
 	void *k = NULL;
 	void *buckets = NULL;
 	char ring_name[RTE_RING_NAMESIZE];
+	unsigned num_key_slots;
+	unsigned hw_trans_mem_support = 0;
 	unsigned i;
 
 	hash_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_hash_tailq.head, rte_hash_list);
@@ -202,6 +215,10 @@ rte_hash_create(const struct rte_hash_parameters *params)
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
+	/* Check extra flags bit to check extra options. */
+	if (params->extra_flag & (1 << RTE_HASH_TRANS_MEM_SUPPORT_FLAG))
+		hw_trans_mem_support = 1;
+
 	snprintf(hash_name, sizeof(hash_name), "HT_%s", params->name);
 
 	/* Guarantee there's no existing */
@@ -238,7 +255,18 @@ rte_hash_create(const struct rte_hash_parameters *params)
 	const uint32_t key_entry_size = sizeof(struct rte_hash_key) + params->key_len;
 
 	/* Store all keys and leave the first entry as a dummy entry for lookup_bulk */
-	const uint64_t key_tbl_size = (uint64_t) key_entry_size * (params->entries + 1);
+	if (hw_trans_mem_support)
+		/*
+		 * Increase number of slots by total number of indices
+		 * that can be stored in the lcore caches
+		 * except for the first cache
+		 */
+		num_key_slots = params->entries + (RTE_MAX_LCORE - 1) *
+					LCORE_CACHE_SIZE + 1;
+	else
+		num_key_slots = params->entries + 1;
+
+	const uint64_t key_tbl_size = (uint64_t) key_entry_size * num_key_slots;
 
 	k = rte_zmalloc_socket(NULL, key_tbl_size,
 			RTE_CACHE_LINE_SIZE, params->socket_id);
@@ -288,13 +316,19 @@ rte_hash_create(const struct rte_hash_parameters *params)
 #endif
 
 	snprintf(ring_name, sizeof(ring_name), "HT_%s", params->name);
-	r = rte_ring_create(ring_name, rte_align32pow2(params->entries + 1),
-				params->socket_id, 0);
+	r = rte_ring_create(ring_name, rte_align32pow2(num_key_slots),
+			params->socket_id, 0);
 	if (r == NULL) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, HASH, "memory allocation failed\n");
 		goto err;
 	}
 
+	if (hw_trans_mem_support) {
+		h->local_free_slots = rte_zmalloc_socket(NULL,
+				sizeof(struct lcore_cache) * RTE_MAX_LCORE,
+				RTE_CACHE_LINE_SIZE, params->socket_id);
+	}
+
 	/* Setup hash context */
 	snprintf(h->name, sizeof(h->name), "%s", params->name);
 	h->entries = params->entries;
@@ -307,9 +341,9 @@ rte_hash_create(const struct rte_hash_parameters *params)
 	h->buckets = buckets;
 	h->hash_func = (params->hash_func == NULL) ?
 		DEFAULT_HASH_FUNC : params->hash_func;
-
 	h->key_store = k;
 	h->free_slots = r;
+	h->hw_trans_mem_support = hw_trans_mem_support;
 
 	/* populate the free slots ring. Entry zero is reserved for key misses */
 	for (i = 1; i < params->entries + 1; i++)
@@ -357,6 +391,9 @@ rte_hash_free(struct rte_hash *h)
 
 	rte_rwlock_write_unlock(RTE_EAL_TAILQ_RWLOCK);
 
+	if (h->hw_trans_mem_support)
+		rte_free(h->local_free_slots);
+
 	rte_ring_free(h->free_slots);
 	rte_free(h->key_store);
 	rte_free(h->buckets);
@@ -402,6 +439,12 @@ rte_hash_reset(struct rte_hash *h)
 	/* Repopulate the free slots ring. Entry zero is reserved for key misses */
 	for (i = 1; i < h->entries + 1; i++)
 		rte_ring_sp_enqueue(h->free_slots, (void *)((uintptr_t) i));
+
+	if (h->hw_trans_mem_support) {
+		/* Reset local caches per lcore */
+		for (i = 0; i < RTE_MAX_LCORE; i++)
+			h->local_free_slots[i].len = 0;
+	}
 }
 
 /* Search for an entry that can be pushed to its alternative location */
@@ -468,6 +511,17 @@ make_space_bucket(const struct rte_hash *h, struct rte_hash_bucket *bkt)
 
 }
 
+static inline void
+enqueue_slot(const struct rte_hash *h, struct lcore_cache *cached_free_slots,
+		void *slot_id)
+{
+	if (h->hw_trans_mem_support) {
+		cached_free_slots->objs[cached_free_slots->len] = slot_id;
+		cached_free_slots->len++;
+	} else
+		rte_ring_sp_enqueue(h->free_slots, slot_id);
+}
+
 static inline int32_t
 __rte_hash_add_key_with_hash(const struct rte_hash *h, const void *key,
 						hash_sig_t sig, void *data)
@@ -477,9 +531,12 @@ __rte_hash_add_key_with_hash(const struct rte_hash *h, const void *key,
 	unsigned i;
 	struct rte_hash_bucket *prim_bkt, *sec_bkt;
 	struct rte_hash_key *new_k, *k, *keys = h->key_store;
-	void *slot_id;
+	void *slot_id = NULL;
 	uint32_t new_idx;
 	int ret;
+	unsigned n_slots;
+	unsigned lcore_id;
+	struct lcore_cache *cached_free_slots = NULL;
 
 	prim_bucket_idx = sig & h->bucket_bitmask;
 	prim_bkt = &h->buckets[prim_bucket_idx];
@@ -491,8 +548,28 @@ __rte_hash_add_key_with_hash(const struct rte_hash *h, const void *key,
 	rte_prefetch0(sec_bkt);
 
 	/* Get a new slot for storing the new key */
-	if (rte_ring_sc_dequeue(h->free_slots, &slot_id) != 0)
-		return -ENOSPC;
+	if (h->hw_trans_mem_support) {
+		lcore_id = rte_lcore_id();
+		cached_free_slots = &h->local_free_slots[lcore_id];
+		/* Try to get a free slot from the local cache */
+		if (cached_free_slots->len == 0) {
+			/* Need to get another burst of free slots from global ring */
+			n_slots = rte_ring_mc_dequeue_burst(h->free_slots,
+					cached_free_slots->objs, LCORE_CACHE_SIZE);
+			if (n_slots == 0)
+				return -ENOSPC;
+
+			cached_free_slots->len += n_slots;
+		}
+
+		/* Get a free slot from the local cache */
+		cached_free_slots->len--;
+		slot_id = cached_free_slots->objs[cached_free_slots->len];
+	} else {
+		if (rte_ring_sc_dequeue(h->free_slots, &slot_id) != 0)
+			return -ENOSPC;
+	}
+
 	new_k = RTE_PTR_ADD(keys, (uintptr_t)slot_id * h->key_entry_size);
 	rte_prefetch0(new_k);
 	new_idx = (uint32_t)((uintptr_t) slot_id);
@@ -500,11 +577,12 @@ __rte_hash_add_key_with_hash(const struct rte_hash *h, const void *key,
 	/* Check if key is already inserted in primary location */
 	for (i = 0; i < RTE_HASH_BUCKET_ENTRIES; i++) {
 		if (prim_bkt->signatures[i].current == sig &&
-				prim_bkt->signatures[i].alt == alt_hash)  {
+				prim_bkt->signatures[i].alt == alt_hash) {
 			k = (struct rte_hash_key *) ((char *)keys +
 					prim_bkt->key_idx[i] * h->key_entry_size);
 			if (h->rte_hash_cmp_eq(key, k->key, h->key_len) == 0) {
-				rte_ring_sp_enqueue(h->free_slots, slot_id);
+				/* Enqueue index of free slot back in the ring. */
+				enqueue_slot(h, cached_free_slots, slot_id);
 				/* Update data */
 				k->pdata = data;
 				/*
@@ -519,11 +597,12 @@ __rte_hash_add_key_with_hash(const struct rte_hash *h, const void *key,
 	/* Check if key is already inserted in secondary location */
 	for (i = 0; i < RTE_HASH_BUCKET_ENTRIES; i++) {
 		if (sec_bkt->signatures[i].alt == sig &&
-				sec_bkt->signatures[i].current == alt_hash)  {
+				sec_bkt->signatures[i].current == alt_hash) {
 			k = (struct rte_hash_key *) ((char *)keys +
 					sec_bkt->key_idx[i] * h->key_entry_size);
 			if (h->rte_hash_cmp_eq(key, k->key, h->key_len) == 0) {
-				rte_ring_sp_enqueue(h->free_slots, slot_id);
+				/* Enqueue index of free slot back in the ring. */
+				enqueue_slot(h, cached_free_slots, slot_id);
 				/* Update data */
 				k->pdata = data;
 				/*
@@ -566,10 +645,9 @@ __rte_hash_add_key_with_hash(const struct rte_hash *h, const void *key,
 	}
 
 	/* Error in addition, store new slot back in the ring and return error */
-	rte_ring_sp_enqueue(h->free_slots,
-		(void *)((uintptr_t) new_idx));
-	return ret;
+	enqueue_slot(h, cached_free_slots, (void *)((uintptr_t) new_idx));
 
+	return ret;
 }
 
 int32_t
@@ -701,6 +779,34 @@ rte_hash_lookup_data(const struct rte_hash *h, const void *key, void **data)
 	return __rte_hash_lookup_with_hash(h, key, rte_hash_hash(h, key), data);
 }
 
+static inline void
+remove_entry(const struct rte_hash *h, struct rte_hash_bucket *bkt, unsigned i)
+{
+	unsigned lcore_id, n_slots;
+	struct lcore_cache *cached_free_slots;
+
+	bkt->signatures[i].sig = NULL_SIGNATURE;
+	if (h->hw_trans_mem_support) {
+		lcore_id = rte_lcore_id();
+		cached_free_slots = &h->local_free_slots[lcore_id];
+		/* Cache full, need to free it. */
+		if (cached_free_slots->len == LCORE_CACHE_SIZE) {
+			/* Need to enqueue the free slots in global ring. */
+			n_slots = rte_ring_mp_enqueue_burst(h->free_slots,
+						cached_free_slots->objs,
+						LCORE_CACHE_SIZE);
+			cached_free_slots->len -= n_slots;
+		}
+		/* Put index of new free slot in cache. */
+		cached_free_slots->objs[cached_free_slots->len] =
+				(void *)((uintptr_t)bkt->key_idx[i]);
+		cached_free_slots->len++;
+	} else {
+		rte_ring_sp_enqueue(h->free_slots,
+				(void *)((uintptr_t)bkt->key_idx[i]));
+	}
+}
+
 static inline int32_t
 __rte_hash_del_key_with_hash(const struct rte_hash *h, const void *key,
 						hash_sig_t sig)
@@ -721,9 +827,8 @@ __rte_hash_del_key_with_hash(const struct rte_hash *h, const void *key,
 			k = (struct rte_hash_key *) ((char *)keys +
 					bkt->key_idx[i] * h->key_entry_size);
 			if (h->rte_hash_cmp_eq(key, k->key, h->key_len) == 0) {
-				bkt->signatures[i].sig = NULL_SIGNATURE;
-				rte_ring_sp_enqueue(h->free_slots,
-						(void *)((uintptr_t)bkt->key_idx[i]));
+				remove_entry(h, bkt, i);
+
 				/*
 				 * Return index where key is stored,
 				 * substracting the first dummy index
@@ -745,9 +850,8 @@ __rte_hash_del_key_with_hash(const struct rte_hash *h, const void *key,
 			k = (struct rte_hash_key *) ((char *)keys +
 					bkt->key_idx[i] * h->key_entry_size);
 			if (h->rte_hash_cmp_eq(key, k->key, h->key_len) == 0) {
-				bkt->signatures[i].sig = NULL_SIGNATURE;
-				rte_ring_sp_enqueue(h->free_slots,
-						(void *)((uintptr_t)bkt->key_idx[i]));
+				remove_entry(h, bkt, i);
+
 				/*
 				 * Return index where key is stored,
 				 * substracting the first dummy index
diff --git a/lib/librte_hash/rte_hash.h b/lib/librte_hash/rte_hash.h
index 175c0bb..24d4c60 100644
--- a/lib/librte_hash/rte_hash.h
+++ b/lib/librte_hash/rte_hash.h
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@ extern "C" {
 #define RTE_HASH_LOOKUP_BULK_MAX		64
 #define RTE_HASH_LOOKUP_MULTI_MAX		RTE_HASH_LOOKUP_BULK_MAX
 
+/** Enable Hardware transactional memory support. */
+#define RTE_HASH_TRANS_MEM_SUPPORT_FLAG		0
+
 /** Signature of key that is stored internally. */
 typedef uint32_t hash_sig_t;
 
