diff --git a/lib/stream.c b/lib/stream.c
index bb90f3b944..6ac51859d3 100644
--- a/lib/stream.c
+++ b/lib/stream.c
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@
 #include "frr_pthread.h"
 #include "lib_errors.h"
 
+#define MIN_STREAM_EXPANSION_SZ 512
+
+/* Extra size  needed for a stream in bytes, given new write size */
+#define STREAM_EXPAND_SIZE(S, WSZ) ((WSZ)-STREAM_WRITEABLE(S))
+
 DEFINE_MTYPE_STATIC(LIB, STREAM, "Stream");
 DEFINE_MTYPE_STATIC(LIB, STREAM_FIFO, "Stream FIFO");
 
@@ -92,11 +97,20 @@ struct stream *stream_new(size_t size)
 
 	assert(size > 0);
 
-	s = XMALLOC(MTYPE_STREAM, sizeof(struct stream) + size);
+	s = XMALLOC(MTYPE_STREAM, sizeof(struct stream));
+	s->data = XMALLOC(MTYPE_STREAM, size);
 
 	s->getp = s->endp = 0;
 	s->next = NULL;
 	s->size = size;
+	s->allow_expansion = false;
+	return s;
+}
+
+struct stream *stream_new_expandable(size_t size)
+{
+	struct stream *s = stream_new(size);
+	s->allow_expansion = true;
 	return s;
 }
 
@@ -106,6 +120,7 @@ void stream_free(struct stream *s)
 	if (!s)
 		return;
 
+	XFREE(MTYPE_STREAM, s->data);
 	XFREE(MTYPE_STREAM, s);
 }
 
@@ -115,7 +130,7 @@ struct stream *stream_copy(struct stream *dest, const struct stream *src)
 
 	assert(dest != NULL);
 	assert(STREAM_SIZE(dest) >= src->endp);
-
+	dest->allow_expansion = src->allow_expansion;
 	dest->endp = src->endp;
 	dest->getp = src->getp;
 
@@ -131,7 +146,7 @@ struct stream *stream_dup(const struct stream *s)
 	STREAM_VERIFY_SANE(s);
 
 	snew = stream_new(s->endp);
-
+	snew->allow_expansion = s->allow_expansion;
 	return (stream_copy(snew, s));
 }
 
@@ -143,9 +158,16 @@ struct stream *stream_dupcat(const struct stream *s1, const struct stream *s2,
 	STREAM_VERIFY_SANE(s1);
 	STREAM_VERIFY_SANE(s2);
 
+	if (offset > s1->endp) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "Error: Invalid offset %zu, exceeds s1->endp %zu\n", offset,
+			s1->endp);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
 	if ((new = stream_new(s1->endp + s2->endp)) == NULL)
 		return NULL;
 
+	new->allow_expansion = s1->allow_expansion || s2->allow_expansion;
 	memcpy(new->data, s1->data, offset);
 	memcpy(new->data + offset, s2->data, s2->endp);
 	memcpy(new->data + offset + s2->endp, s1->data + offset,
@@ -160,7 +182,7 @@ size_t stream_resize_inplace(struct stream **sptr, size_t newsize)
 
 	STREAM_VERIFY_SANE(orig);
 
-	orig = XREALLOC(MTYPE_STREAM, orig, sizeof(struct stream) + newsize);
+	orig->data = XREALLOC(MTYPE_STREAM, orig->data, newsize);
 
 	orig->size = newsize;
 
@@ -175,6 +197,29 @@ size_t stream_resize_inplace(struct stream **sptr, size_t newsize)
 	return orig->size;
 }
 
+/* Helper function to expand stream if needed and allowed */
+static void stream_expand(struct stream *s, size_t expand_size)
+{
+	size_t new_size;
+	size_t actual_expand_size = expand_size;
+
+	/* Growth strategy:
+	 * For small expansions (<= min expansion bytes): grow by min size
+	 * otherwise grow by needed size
+	 */
+	if (actual_expand_size <= MIN_STREAM_EXPANSION_SZ) {
+		actual_expand_size = MIN_STREAM_EXPANSION_SZ;
+	}
+
+	/* Calculate new total size */
+	new_size = s->size + actual_expand_size;
+	/* Reallocate the data buffer */
+	s->data = XREALLOC(MTYPE_STREAM, s->data, new_size);
+
+	/* Update the stream's data size */
+	s->size = new_size;
+}
+
 size_t stream_get_getp(const struct stream *s)
 {
 	STREAM_VERIFY_SANE(s);
@@ -691,8 +736,12 @@ void stream_put(struct stream *s, const void *src, size_t size)
 	STREAM_VERIFY_SANE(s);
 
 	if (STREAM_WRITEABLE(s) < size) {
-		STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
-		return;
+		if (s->allow_expansion) {
+			stream_expand(s, STREAM_EXPAND_SIZE(s, size));
+		} else {
+			STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
+			return;
+		}
 	}
 
 	if (src)
@@ -709,8 +758,12 @@ int stream_putc(struct stream *s, uint8_t c)
 	STREAM_VERIFY_SANE(s);
 
 	if (STREAM_WRITEABLE(s) < sizeof(uint8_t)) {
-		STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
-		return 0;
+		if (s->allow_expansion) {
+			stream_expand(s, STREAM_EXPAND_SIZE(s, sizeof(uint8_t)));
+		} else {
+			STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
+			return 0;
+		}
 	}
 
 	s->data[s->endp++] = c;
@@ -723,8 +776,12 @@ int stream_putw(struct stream *s, uint16_t w)
 	STREAM_VERIFY_SANE(s);
 
 	if (STREAM_WRITEABLE(s) < sizeof(uint16_t)) {
-		STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
-		return 0;
+		if (s->allow_expansion) {
+			stream_expand(s, STREAM_EXPAND_SIZE(s, sizeof(uint16_t)));
+		} else {
+			STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
+			return 0;
+		}
 	}
 
 	s->data[s->endp++] = (uint8_t)(w >> 8);
@@ -739,8 +796,12 @@ int stream_put3(struct stream *s, uint32_t l)
 	STREAM_VERIFY_SANE(s);
 
 	if (STREAM_WRITEABLE(s) < 3) {
-		STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
-		return 0;
+		if (s->allow_expansion) {
+			stream_expand(s, STREAM_EXPAND_SIZE(s, 3));
+		} else {
+			STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
+			return 0;
+		}
 	}
 
 	s->data[s->endp++] = (uint8_t)(l >> 16);
@@ -756,8 +817,12 @@ int stream_putl(struct stream *s, uint32_t l)
 	STREAM_VERIFY_SANE(s);
 
 	if (STREAM_WRITEABLE(s) < sizeof(uint32_t)) {
-		STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
-		return 0;
+		if (s->allow_expansion) {
+			stream_expand(s, STREAM_EXPAND_SIZE(s, sizeof(uint32_t)));
+		} else {
+			STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
+			return 0;
+		}
 	}
 
 	s->data[s->endp++] = (uint8_t)(l >> 24);
@@ -774,8 +839,12 @@ int stream_putq(struct stream *s, uint64_t q)
 	STREAM_VERIFY_SANE(s);
 
 	if (STREAM_WRITEABLE(s) < sizeof(uint64_t)) {
-		STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put quad");
-		return 0;
+		if (s->allow_expansion) {
+			stream_expand(s, STREAM_EXPAND_SIZE(s, sizeof(uint64_t)));
+		} else {
+			STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
+			return 0;
+		}
 	}
 
 	s->data[s->endp++] = (uint8_t)(q >> 56);
@@ -896,7 +965,13 @@ int stream_put_ipv4(struct stream *s, uint32_t l)
 	STREAM_VERIFY_SANE(s);
 
 	if (STREAM_WRITEABLE(s) < sizeof(uint32_t)) {
-		STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
+		if (s->allow_expansion) {
+			stream_expand(s, STREAM_EXPAND_SIZE(s, sizeof(uint32_t)));
+		} else {
+			STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
+			return 0;
+		}
+
 		return 0;
 	}
 	memcpy(s->data + s->endp, &l, sizeof(uint32_t));
@@ -911,8 +986,12 @@ int stream_put_in_addr(struct stream *s, const struct in_addr *addr)
 	STREAM_VERIFY_SANE(s);
 
 	if (STREAM_WRITEABLE(s) < sizeof(uint32_t)) {
-		STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
-		return 0;
+		if (s->allow_expansion) {
+			stream_expand(s, STREAM_EXPAND_SIZE(s, sizeof(uint32_t)));
+		} else {
+			STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
+			return 0;
+		}
 	}
 
 	memcpy(s->data + s->endp, addr, sizeof(uint32_t));
@@ -989,8 +1068,13 @@ int stream_put_prefix_addpath(struct stream *s, const struct prefix *p,
 		psize_with_addpath = psize;
 
 	if (STREAM_WRITEABLE(s) < (psize_with_addpath + sizeof(uint8_t))) {
-		STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
-		return 0;
+		if (s->allow_expansion) {
+			stream_expand(s,
+				      STREAM_EXPAND_SIZE(s, psize_with_addpath + sizeof(uint8_t)));
+		} else {
+			STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
+			return 0;
+		}
 	}
 
 	if (addpath_capable) {
@@ -1027,8 +1111,12 @@ int stream_put_labeled_prefix(struct stream *s, const struct prefix *p,
 	psize_with_addpath = psize + (addpath_capable ? 4 : 0);
 
 	if (STREAM_WRITEABLE(s) < (psize_with_addpath + 3)) {
-		STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
-		return 0;
+		if (s->allow_expansion) {
+			stream_expand(s, STREAM_EXPAND_SIZE(s, psize_with_addpath + 3));
+		} else {
+			STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
+			return 0;
+		}
 	}
 
 	if (addpath_capable) {
@@ -1167,8 +1255,12 @@ size_t stream_write(struct stream *s, const void *ptr, size_t size)
 	STREAM_VERIFY_SANE(s);
 
 	if (STREAM_WRITEABLE(s) < size) {
-		STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
-		return 0;
+		if (s->allow_expansion) {
+			stream_expand(s, STREAM_EXPAND_SIZE(s, size));
+		} else {
+			STREAM_BOUND_WARN(s, "put");
+			return 0;
+		}
 	}
 
 	memcpy(s->data + s->endp, ptr, size);
diff --git a/lib/stream.h b/lib/stream.h
index e48cedc613..437ba5aa74 100644
--- a/lib/stream.h
+++ b/lib/stream.h
@@ -95,7 +95,8 @@ struct stream {
 	size_t getp;	       /* next get position */
 	size_t endp;	       /* last valid data position */
 	size_t size;	       /* size of data segment */
-	unsigned char data[];  /* data pointer */
+	bool allow_expansion;  /* whether stream can be expanded */
+	unsigned char *data;   /* data pointer */
 };
 
 /* First in first out queue structure. */
@@ -132,6 +133,7 @@ struct stream_fifo {
  * q: quad (four words)
  */
 extern struct stream *stream_new(size_t);
+extern struct stream *stream_new_expandable(size_t);
 extern void stream_free(struct stream *);
 /* Copy 'src' into 'dest', returns 'dest' */
 extern struct stream *stream_copy(struct stream *dest,
diff --git a/lib/zclient.c b/lib/zclient.c
index bdb62befb9..3e68e962aa 100644
--- a/lib/zclient.c
+++ b/lib/zclient.c
@@ -1326,24 +1326,6 @@ enum zclient_send_status zclient_nhg_send(struct zclient *zclient, int cmd,
 	return zclient_send_message(zclient);
 }
 
-/* size needed by a stream for redistributing a route */
-int zapi_redistribute_stream_size(struct zapi_route *api)
-{
-	size_t msg_size = 0;
-	size_t nh_size = sizeof(struct zapi_nexthop);
-
-	msg_size = sizeof(struct zapi_route);
-	/* remove unused nexthop structures */
-	msg_size -= (MULTIPATH_NUM - api->nexthop_num) * nh_size;
-	/* remove unused backup nexthop structures */
-	msg_size -= (MULTIPATH_NUM - api->backup_nexthop_num) * nh_size;
-	/* remove unused opaque values */
-	msg_size -= ZAPI_MESSAGE_OPAQUE_LENGTH - api->opaque.length;
-
-	return msg_size;
-}
-
-
 int zapi_route_encode(uint8_t cmd, struct stream *s, struct zapi_route *api)
 {
 	struct zapi_nexthop *api_nh;
diff --git a/lib/zclient.h b/lib/zclient.h
index 8719af1d03..c90e5dfe40 100644
--- a/lib/zclient.h
+++ b/lib/zclient.h
@@ -1164,7 +1164,6 @@ zclient_send_rnh(struct zclient *zclient, int command, const struct prefix *p,
 		 vrf_id_t vrf_id);
 int zapi_nexthop_encode(struct stream *s, const struct zapi_nexthop *api_nh,
 			uint32_t api_flags, uint32_t api_message);
-extern int zapi_redistribute_stream_size(struct zapi_route *api);
 extern int zapi_route_encode(uint8_t, struct stream *, struct zapi_route *);
 extern int zapi_route_decode(struct stream *s, struct zapi_route *api);
 extern int zapi_nexthop_decode(struct stream *s, struct zapi_nexthop *api_nh,
diff --git a/tests/topotests/high_ecmp/test_high_ecmp_unnumbered.py b/tests/topotests/high_ecmp/test_high_ecmp_unnumbered.py
index 1a65a44a55..0947272386 100644
--- a/tests/topotests/high_ecmp/test_high_ecmp_unnumbered.py
+++ b/tests/topotests/high_ecmp/test_high_ecmp_unnumbered.py
@@ -78,13 +78,18 @@ def setup_module(module):
                 (TopoRouter.RD_ZEBRA, "-s 180000000"),
                 (TopoRouter.RD_BGP, None),
                 (TopoRouter.RD_SHARP, None),
+                (TopoRouter.RD_STATIC, None),
+                (TopoRouter.RD_OSPF, None),
+                (TopoRouter.RD_OSPF6, None),
+                (TopoRouter.RD_PIM, None),
             ],
         )
- 
+
     tgen.start_router()
-    
+
     for rname, router in router_list.items():
-       router.cmd("vtysh -f {}/{}/frr_unnumbered_bgp.conf".format(CWD, rname))
+        router.cmd("vtysh -f {}/{}/frr_unnumbered_bgp.conf".format(CWD, rname))
+
 
 def teardown_module(_mod):
     "Teardown the pytest environment"
diff --git a/tests/topotests/high_ecmp/test_high_ecmp_v4.py b/tests/topotests/high_ecmp/test_high_ecmp_v4.py
index c1fbb9e878..909c9d6528 100644
--- a/tests/topotests/high_ecmp/test_high_ecmp_v4.py
+++ b/tests/topotests/high_ecmp/test_high_ecmp_v4.py
@@ -78,13 +78,18 @@ def setup_module(module):
                 (TopoRouter.RD_ZEBRA, "-s 180000000"),
                 (TopoRouter.RD_BGP, None),
                 (TopoRouter.RD_SHARP, None),
+                (TopoRouter.RD_STATIC, None),
+                (TopoRouter.RD_OSPF, None),
+                (TopoRouter.RD_OSPF6, None),
+                (TopoRouter.RD_PIM, None),
             ],
         )
- 
+
     tgen.start_router()
-    
+
     for rname, router in router_list.items():
-       router.cmd("vtysh -f {}/{}/frr_ipv4_bgp.conf".format(CWD, rname))
+        router.cmd("vtysh -f {}/{}/frr_ipv4_bgp.conf".format(CWD, rname))
+
 
 def teardown_module(_mod):
     "Teardown the pytest environment"
diff --git a/tests/topotests/high_ecmp/test_high_ecmp_v6.py b/tests/topotests/high_ecmp/test_high_ecmp_v6.py
index a63444f0f0..cb4c93f590 100644
--- a/tests/topotests/high_ecmp/test_high_ecmp_v6.py
+++ b/tests/topotests/high_ecmp/test_high_ecmp_v6.py
@@ -78,13 +78,18 @@ def setup_module(module):
                 (TopoRouter.RD_ZEBRA, "-s 180000000"),
                 (TopoRouter.RD_BGP, None),
                 (TopoRouter.RD_SHARP, None),
+                (TopoRouter.RD_STATIC, None),
+                (TopoRouter.RD_OSPF, None),
+                (TopoRouter.RD_OSPF6, None),
+                (TopoRouter.RD_PIM, None),
             ],
         )
- 
+
     tgen.start_router()
-    
+
     for rname, router in router_list.items():
-       router.cmd("vtysh -f {}/{}/frr_ipv6_bgp.conf".format(CWD, rname))
+        router.cmd("vtysh -f {}/{}/frr_ipv6_bgp.conf".format(CWD, rname))
+
 
 def teardown_module(_mod):
     "Teardown the pytest environment"
diff --git a/zebra/zapi_msg.c b/zebra/zapi_msg.c
index 064b377f28..d4e65eb18c 100644
--- a/zebra/zapi_msg.c
+++ b/zebra/zapi_msg.c
@@ -516,7 +516,6 @@ int zsend_redistribute_route(int cmd, struct zserv *client, const struct route_n
 	const struct prefix *p, *src_p;
 	uint16_t count = 0;
 	afi_t afi;
-	size_t stream_size = 0;
 
 	srcdest_rnode_prefixes(rn, &p, &src_p);
 	memset(&api, 0, sizeof(api));
@@ -608,8 +607,7 @@ int zsend_redistribute_route(int cmd, struct zserv *client, const struct route_n
 	SET_FLAG(api.message, ZAPI_MESSAGE_MTU);
 	api.mtu = re->mtu;
 
-	stream_size = zapi_redistribute_stream_size(&api);
-	struct stream *s = stream_new(stream_size);
+	struct stream *s = stream_new_expandable(ZEBRA_MAX_PACKET_SIZ);
 
 	/* Encode route and send. */
 	if (zapi_route_encode(cmd, s, &api) < 0) {
diff --git a/zebra/zebra_rnh.c b/zebra/zebra_rnh.c
index 640e6551a7..6b6be59c47 100644
--- a/zebra/zebra_rnh.c
+++ b/zebra/zebra_rnh.c
@@ -1150,7 +1150,7 @@ int zebra_send_rnh_update(struct rnh *rnh, struct zserv *client,
 	re = rnh->state;
 
 	/* Get output stream. */
-	s = stream_new(ZEBRA_MAX_PACKET_SIZ);
+	s = stream_new_expandable(ZEBRA_MAX_PACKET_SIZ);
 
 	zclient_create_header(s, ZEBRA_NEXTHOP_UPDATE, vrf_id);