A technique for detecting a loop between network devices such as customer and carrier edge devices involves counting the number of media access control (MAC) address moves that occur at a device and comparing the number of MAC address moves to a pre-established MAC move threshold. The technique includes artificially accelerating the MAC move count related to a MAC address when the MAC address is moving between a set of ports at which the MAC address was previously found. The MAC move count is artificially accelerated because movement of a MAC address between a set of ports at which the MAC address was previously found is a strong indication of loop. The MAC move count is artificially accelerated by weighting the MAC move count once it has been determined that a MAC is moving between a set of ports at which the MAC address was previously found.