In a computer system, an architecture is disclosed for optimizing aspects of data movement operations by performing functions such as memory allocation and notification on hardware rather than software. In this environment, the claimed invention is a method and apparatus for ensuring the integrity of data movement operations from virtual memory. The invention monitors and detects Translation Lookaside Buffer ("TLB") purges, a hardware-based operation whose occurrence signals that virtual-to-physical mapping has changed. Responsive to detection of a TLB purge during the set up or execution of a data movement operation, the claimed invention aborts the operation, and then enqueues corresponding completion status information to notify processors of the event.