A mechanism is disclosed for performing network embedded real time service level objective (SLO) validation. The mechanism may be implemented by a network device including a processor configured to generate a data packet as part of a data flow, the data packet including a service level objective (SLO), the SLO indicating a network service threshold and including a key performance indicator (KPI), the KPI indicating a network service metric to be compared to the network service threshold; a transmitter coupled to the processor, the transmitter configured to transmit the data packet toward a network; and a receiver coupled to the processor, the receiver configured to receive a message, the message indicating to the network device whether a service provided by the network has met or violated the SLO.