Protection switching in a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) ring network with a protection label switch path that is shared by multiple working label switch paths may include receiving a packet intended for transmission towards a disconnected adjacent node on a working label switch path, and adding, to the received packet, a protection label and a merge label. The merge label may uniquely identify the working label switch path on which the packet is received. The packet may be transmitted on the protection label switch path.