diff --git a/examples/l2fwd/Makefile b/examples/l2fwd/Makefile
index a8a47ad..24d1e4e 100644
--- a/examples/l2fwd/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l2fwd/Makefile
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ APP = l2fwd
 
 # all source are stored in SRCS-y
 SRCS-y := main.c
+SRCS-y += l2fwd_worker.c
 
 # Build using pkg-config variables if possible
 $(shell pkg-config --exists libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/l2fwd/l2fwd_worker.c b/examples/l2fwd/l2fwd_worker.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..663c505
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/l2fwd/l2fwd_worker.c
@@ -0,0 +1,233 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+ * Copyright(c) 2010-2016 Intel Corporation
+ * Copyright(c) 2018 Cavium, Inc
+ */
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include <inttypes.h>
+#include <sys/types.h>
+#include <sys/queue.h>
+#include <netinet/in.h>
+#include <setjmp.h>
+#include <stdarg.h>
+#include <ctype.h>
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <getopt.h>
+#include <signal.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
+
+#include <rte_common.h>
+#include <rte_log.h>
+#include <rte_malloc.h>
+#include <rte_memory.h>
+#include <rte_memcpy.h>
+#include <rte_eal.h>
+#include <rte_launch.h>
+#include <rte_atomic.h>
+#include <rte_cycles.h>
+#include <rte_prefetch.h>
+#include <rte_lcore.h>
+#include <rte_per_lcore.h>
+#include <rte_branch_prediction.h>
+#include <rte_interrupts.h>
+#include <rte_random.h>
+#include <rte_debug.h>
+#include <rte_ether.h>
+#include <rte_ethdev.h>
+#include <rte_mempool.h>
+#include <rte_mbuf.h>
+
+#include "l2fwd_common.h"
+#include "l2fwd_worker.h"
+
+/* Print out statistics on packets dropped */
+static void
+print_stats(void)
+{
+	uint64_t total_packets_dropped, total_packets_tx, total_packets_rx;
+	unsigned int portid;
+
+	total_packets_dropped = 0;
+	total_packets_tx = 0;
+	total_packets_rx = 0;
+
+	const char clr[] = { 27, '[', '2', 'J', '\0' };
+	const char topLeft[] = { 27, '[', '1', ';', '1', 'H', '\0' };
+
+		/* Clear screen and move to top left */
+	printf("%s%s", clr, topLeft);
+
+	printf("\nPort statistics ====================================");
+
+	for (portid = 0; portid < RTE_MAX_ETHPORTS; portid++) {
+		/* skip disabled ports */
+		if ((l2fwd_enabled_port_mask & (1 << portid)) == 0)
+			continue;
+		printf("\nStatistics for port %u ------------------------------"
+			   "\nPackets sent: %24"PRIu64
+			   "\nPackets received: %20"PRIu64
+			   "\nPackets dropped: %21"PRIu64,
+			   portid,
+			   port_statistics[portid].tx,
+			   port_statistics[portid].rx,
+			   port_statistics[portid].dropped);
+
+		total_packets_dropped += port_statistics[portid].dropped;
+		total_packets_tx += port_statistics[portid].tx;
+		total_packets_rx += port_statistics[portid].rx;
+	}
+	printf("\nAggregate statistics ==============================="
+		   "\nTotal packets sent: %18"PRIu64
+		   "\nTotal packets received: %14"PRIu64
+		   "\nTotal packets dropped: %15"PRIu64,
+		   total_packets_tx,
+		   total_packets_rx,
+		   total_packets_dropped);
+	printf("\n====================================================\n");
+}
+
+static void
+l2fwd_mac_updating(struct rte_mbuf *m, unsigned int dest_portid)
+{
+	struct ether_hdr *eth;
+	void *tmp;
+
+	eth = rte_pktmbuf_mtod(m, struct ether_hdr *);
+
+	/* 02:00:00:00:00:xx */
+	tmp = &eth->d_addr.addr_bytes[0];
+	*((uint64_t *)tmp) = 0x000000000002 + ((uint64_t)dest_portid << 40);
+
+	/* src addr */
+	ether_addr_copy(&l2fwd_ports_eth_addr[dest_portid], &eth->s_addr);
+}
+
+static void
+l2fwd_simple_forward(struct rte_mbuf *m, unsigned int portid)
+{
+	unsigned int dst_port;
+	int sent;
+	struct rte_eth_dev_tx_buffer *buffer;
+
+	dst_port = l2fwd_dst_ports[portid];
+
+	if (mac_updating)
+		l2fwd_mac_updating(m, dst_port);
+
+	buffer = tx_buffer[dst_port];
+	sent = rte_eth_tx_buffer(dst_port, 0, buffer, m);
+	if (sent)
+		port_statistics[dst_port].tx += sent;
+}
+
+/* main processing loop */
+static void
+l2fwd_main_loop(void)
+{
+	struct rte_mbuf *pkts_burst[MAX_PKT_BURST];
+	struct rte_mbuf *m;
+	int sent;
+	unsigned int lcore_id;
+	unsigned int master_core_id;
+	uint64_t prev_tsc, diff_tsc, cur_tsc, timer_tsc;
+	unsigned int i, j, portid, nb_rx;
+	struct lcore_queue_conf *qconf;
+	const uint64_t drain_tsc = (rte_get_tsc_hz() + US_PER_S - 1)
+			/ US_PER_S * BURST_TX_DRAIN_US;
+	struct rte_eth_dev_tx_buffer *buffer;
+
+	prev_tsc = 0;
+	timer_tsc = 0;
+
+	lcore_id = rte_lcore_id();
+	qconf = &lcore_queue_conf[lcore_id];
+
+	if (qconf->n_rx_port == 0) {
+		RTE_LOG(INFO, L2FWD, "lcore %u has nothing to do\n", lcore_id);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	RTE_LOG(INFO, L2FWD, "entering main loop on lcore %u\n", lcore_id);
+
+	for (i = 0; i < qconf->n_rx_port; i++) {
+
+		portid = qconf->rx_port_list[i];
+		RTE_LOG(INFO, L2FWD, " -- lcoreid=%u portid=%u\n", lcore_id,
+			portid);
+
+	}
+
+	master_core_id = rte_get_master_lcore();
+
+	while (!force_quit) {
+
+		cur_tsc = rte_rdtsc();
+
+		/*
+		 * TX burst queue drain
+		 */
+		diff_tsc = cur_tsc - prev_tsc;
+		if (unlikely(diff_tsc > drain_tsc)) {
+
+			for (i = 0; i < qconf->n_rx_port; i++) {
+
+				portid =
+					l2fwd_dst_ports[qconf->rx_port_list[i]];
+				buffer = tx_buffer[portid];
+
+				sent = rte_eth_tx_buffer_flush(portid, 0,
+						buffer);
+				if (sent)
+					port_statistics[portid].tx += sent;
+
+			}
+
+			/* if timer is enabled */
+			if (timer_period > 0) {
+
+				/* advance the timer */
+				timer_tsc += diff_tsc;
+
+				/* if timer has reached its timeout */
+				if (unlikely(timer_tsc >= timer_period)) {
+
+					/* do this only on master core */
+					if (lcore_id == master_core_id) {
+						print_stats();
+						/* reset the timer */
+						timer_tsc = 0;
+					}
+				}
+			}
+
+			prev_tsc = cur_tsc;
+		}
+
+		/*
+		 * Read packet from RX queues
+		 */
+		for (i = 0; i < qconf->n_rx_port; i++) {
+
+			portid = qconf->rx_port_list[i];
+			nb_rx = rte_eth_rx_burst(portid, 0,
+						 pkts_burst, MAX_PKT_BURST);
+
+			port_statistics[portid].rx += nb_rx;
+
+			for (j = 0; j < nb_rx; j++) {
+				m = pkts_burst[j];
+				rte_prefetch0(rte_pktmbuf_mtod(m, void *));
+				l2fwd_simple_forward(m, portid);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+int
+l2fwd_launch_one_lcore(__attribute__((unused)) void *dummy)
+{
+	l2fwd_main_loop();
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/examples/l2fwd/l2fwd_worker.h b/examples/l2fwd/l2fwd_worker.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8971a6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/l2fwd/l2fwd_worker.h
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+ * Copyright(c) 2018 Cavium, Inc
+ */
+#ifndef _L2FWD_WORKER_H_
+#define _L2FWD_WORKER_H_
+
+int
+l2fwd_launch_one_lcore(__attribute__((unused)) void *dummy);
+
+#endif /* _L2FWD_WORKER_H_ */
diff --git a/examples/l2fwd/main.c b/examples/l2fwd/main.c
index a6089a1..05f9d28 100644
--- a/examples/l2fwd/main.c
+++ b/examples/l2fwd/main.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include <rte_mbuf.h>
 
 #include "l2fwd_common.h"
+#include "l2fwd_worker.h"
 
 static uint16_t nb_rxd = RTE_TEST_RX_DESC_DEFAULT;
 static uint16_t nb_txd = RTE_TEST_TX_DESC_DEFAULT;
@@ -59,191 +60,6 @@ static struct rte_eth_conf port_conf = {
 
 struct rte_mempool * l2fwd_pktmbuf_pool = NULL;
 
-/* Print out statistics on packets dropped */
-static void
-print_stats(void)
-{
-	uint64_t total_packets_dropped, total_packets_tx, total_packets_rx;
-	unsigned portid;
-
-	total_packets_dropped = 0;
-	total_packets_tx = 0;
-	total_packets_rx = 0;
-
-	const char clr[] = { 27, '[', '2', 'J', '\0' };
-	const char topLeft[] = { 27, '[', '1', ';', '1', 'H','\0' };
-
-		/* Clear screen and move to top left */
-	printf("%s%s", clr, topLeft);
-
-	printf("\nPort statistics ====================================");
-
-	for (portid = 0; portid < RTE_MAX_ETHPORTS; portid++) {
-		/* skip disabled ports */
-		if ((l2fwd_enabled_port_mask & (1 << portid)) == 0)
-			continue;
-		printf("\nStatistics for port %u ------------------------------"
-			   "\nPackets sent: %24"PRIu64
-			   "\nPackets received: %20"PRIu64
-			   "\nPackets dropped: %21"PRIu64,
-			   portid,
-			   port_statistics[portid].tx,
-			   port_statistics[portid].rx,
-			   port_statistics[portid].dropped);
-
-		total_packets_dropped += port_statistics[portid].dropped;
-		total_packets_tx += port_statistics[portid].tx;
-		total_packets_rx += port_statistics[portid].rx;
-	}
-	printf("\nAggregate statistics ==============================="
-		   "\nTotal packets sent: %18"PRIu64
-		   "\nTotal packets received: %14"PRIu64
-		   "\nTotal packets dropped: %15"PRIu64,
-		   total_packets_tx,
-		   total_packets_rx,
-		   total_packets_dropped);
-	printf("\n====================================================\n");
-}
-
-static void
-l2fwd_mac_updating(struct rte_mbuf *m, unsigned dest_portid)
-{
-	struct ether_hdr *eth;
-	void *tmp;
-
-	eth = rte_pktmbuf_mtod(m, struct ether_hdr *);
-
-	/* 02:00:00:00:00:xx */
-	tmp = &eth->d_addr.addr_bytes[0];
-	*((uint64_t *)tmp) = 0x000000000002 + ((uint64_t)dest_portid << 40);
-
-	/* src addr */
-	ether_addr_copy(&l2fwd_ports_eth_addr[dest_portid], &eth->s_addr);
-}
-
-static void
-l2fwd_simple_forward(struct rte_mbuf *m, unsigned portid)
-{
-	unsigned dst_port;
-	int sent;
-	struct rte_eth_dev_tx_buffer *buffer;
-
-	dst_port = l2fwd_dst_ports[portid];
-
-	if (mac_updating)
-		l2fwd_mac_updating(m, dst_port);
-
-	buffer = tx_buffer[dst_port];
-	sent = rte_eth_tx_buffer(dst_port, 0, buffer, m);
-	if (sent)
-		port_statistics[dst_port].tx += sent;
-}
-
-/* main processing loop */
-static void
-l2fwd_main_loop(void)
-{
-	struct rte_mbuf *pkts_burst[MAX_PKT_BURST];
-	struct rte_mbuf *m;
-	int sent;
-	unsigned lcore_id;
-	uint64_t prev_tsc, diff_tsc, cur_tsc, timer_tsc;
-	unsigned i, j, portid, nb_rx;
-	struct lcore_queue_conf *qconf;
-	const uint64_t drain_tsc = (rte_get_tsc_hz() + US_PER_S - 1) / US_PER_S *
-			BURST_TX_DRAIN_US;
-	struct rte_eth_dev_tx_buffer *buffer;
-
-	prev_tsc = 0;
-	timer_tsc = 0;
-
-	lcore_id = rte_lcore_id();
-	qconf = &lcore_queue_conf[lcore_id];
-
-	if (qconf->n_rx_port == 0) {
-		RTE_LOG(INFO, L2FWD, "lcore %u has nothing to do\n", lcore_id);
-		return;
-	}
-
-	RTE_LOG(INFO, L2FWD, "entering main loop on lcore %u\n", lcore_id);
-
-	for (i = 0; i < qconf->n_rx_port; i++) {
-
-		portid = qconf->rx_port_list[i];
-		RTE_LOG(INFO, L2FWD, " -- lcoreid=%u portid=%u\n", lcore_id,
-			portid);
-
-	}
-
-	while (!force_quit) {
-
-		cur_tsc = rte_rdtsc();
-
-		/*
-		 * TX burst queue drain
-		 */
-		diff_tsc = cur_tsc - prev_tsc;
-		if (unlikely(diff_tsc > drain_tsc)) {
-
-			for (i = 0; i < qconf->n_rx_port; i++) {
-
-				portid = l2fwd_dst_ports[qconf->rx_port_list[i]];
-				buffer = tx_buffer[portid];
-
-				sent = rte_eth_tx_buffer_flush(portid, 0, buffer);
-				if (sent)
-					port_statistics[portid].tx += sent;
-
-			}
-
-			/* if timer is enabled */
-			if (timer_period > 0) {
-
-				/* advance the timer */
-				timer_tsc += diff_tsc;
-
-				/* if timer has reached its timeout */
-				if (unlikely(timer_tsc >= timer_period)) {
-
-					/* do this only on master core */
-					if (lcore_id == rte_get_master_lcore()) {
-						print_stats();
-						/* reset the timer */
-						timer_tsc = 0;
-					}
-				}
-			}
-
-			prev_tsc = cur_tsc;
-		}
-
-		/*
-		 * Read packet from RX queues
-		 */
-		for (i = 0; i < qconf->n_rx_port; i++) {
-
-			portid = qconf->rx_port_list[i];
-			nb_rx = rte_eth_rx_burst(portid, 0,
-						 pkts_burst, MAX_PKT_BURST);
-
-			port_statistics[portid].rx += nb_rx;
-
-			for (j = 0; j < nb_rx; j++) {
-				m = pkts_burst[j];
-				rte_prefetch0(rte_pktmbuf_mtod(m, void *));
-				l2fwd_simple_forward(m, portid);
-			}
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-static int
-l2fwd_launch_one_lcore(__attribute__((unused)) void *dummy)
-{
-	l2fwd_main_loop();
-	return 0;
-}
-
 /* display usage */
 static void
 l2fwd_usage(const char *prgname)
