diff --git a/registry.go b/registry.go
index 6b47621..5b27a45 100644
--- a/registry.go
+++ b/registry.go
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
+	// RefreshInterval is the time at which we completely refresh the table
+	RefreshInterval = time.Second * 120
+	// PruneInterval is how often we prune the routing table
+	PruneInterval = time.Second * 10
 	// AdvertiseEventsTick is time interval in which the router advertises route updates
 	AdvertiseEventsTick = 10 * time.Second
 	// DefaultAdvertTTL is default advertisement TTL
@@ -55,7 +59,7 @@ func NewRouter(opts ...router.Option) router.Router {
 
 	// create the new table, passing the fetchRoute method in as a fallback if
 	// the table doesn't contain the result for a query.
-	r.table = newTable(r.fetchRoutes)
+	r.table = newTable(r.lookup)
 
 	// start the router
 	r.start()
@@ -96,6 +100,20 @@ func (r *rtr) Table() router.Table {
 	return r.table
 }
 
+func getDomain(srv *registry.Service) string {
+	// check the service metadata for domain
+	// TODO: domain as Domain field in registry?
+	if srv.Metadata != nil && len(srv.Metadata["domain"]) > 0 {
+		return srv.Metadata["domain"]
+	} else if len(srv.Nodes) > 0 && srv.Nodes[0].Metadata != nil {
+		return srv.Nodes[0].Metadata["domain"]
+	}
+
+	// otherwise return wildcard
+	// TODO: return GlobalDomain or PublicDomain
+	return registry.WildcardDomain
+}
+
 // manageRoute applies action on a given route
 func (r *rtr) manageRoute(route router.Route, action string) error {
 	switch action {
@@ -118,15 +136,12 @@ func (r *rtr) manageRoute(route router.Route, action string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// manageServiceRoutes applies action to all routes of the service.
-// It returns error of the action fails with error.
-func (r *rtr) manageRoutes(service *registry.Service, action, network string) error {
-	// action is the routing table action
-	action = strings.ToLower(action)
+// createRoutes turns a service into a list routes basically converting nodes to routes
+func (r *rtr) createRoutes(service *registry.Service, network string) []router.Route {
+	var routes []router.Route
 
-	// take route action on each service node
 	for _, node := range service.Nodes {
-		route := router.Route{
+		routes = append(routes, router.Route{
 			Service:  service.Name,
 			Address:  node.Address,
 			Gateway:  "",
@@ -135,8 +150,33 @@ func (r *rtr) manageRoutes(service *registry.Service, action, network string) er
 			Link:     router.DefaultLink,
 			Metric:   router.DefaultLocalMetric,
 			Metadata: node.Metadata,
-		}
+		})
+	}
 
+	return routes
+}
+
+// manageServiceRoutes applies action to all routes of the service.
+// It returns error of the action fails with error.
+func (r *rtr) manageRoutes(service *registry.Service, action, network string) error {
+	// action is the routing table action
+	action = strings.ToLower(action)
+
+	// create a set of routes from the service
+	routes := r.createRoutes(service, network)
+
+	// if its a delete action and there's no nodes
+	// it means we need to wipe out all the routes
+	// for that service
+	if action == "delete" && len(routes) == 0 {
+		// delete the service entirely
+		r.table.deleteService(service.Name, network)
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// create the routes in the table
+	for _, route := range routes {
+		logger.Tracef("Creating route %v domain: %v", route, network)
 		if err := r.manageRoute(route, action); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -147,7 +187,7 @@ func (r *rtr) manageRoutes(service *registry.Service, action, network string) er
 
 // manageRegistryRoutes applies action to all routes of each service found in the registry.
 // It returns error if either the services failed to be listed or the routing table action fails.
-func (r *rtr) manageRegistryRoutes(reg registry.Registry, action string) error {
+func (r *rtr) loadRoutes(reg registry.Registry) error {
 	services, err := reg.ListServices(registry.ListDomain(registry.WildcardDomain))
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed listing services: %v", err)
@@ -156,20 +196,16 @@ func (r *rtr) manageRegistryRoutes(reg registry.Registry, action string) error {
 	// add each service node as a separate route
 	for _, service := range services {
 		// get the services domain from metadata. Fallback to wildcard.
-		var domain string
+		domain := getDomain(service)
 
-		if service.Metadata != nil && len(service.Metadata["domain"]) > 0 {
-			domain = service.Metadata["domain"]
-		} else {
-			domain = registry.WildcardDomain
-		}
+		// create the routes
+		routes := r.createRoutes(service, domain)
 
-		// we already have nodes
-		if len(service.Nodes) > 0 {
-			logger.Tracef("Creating route %v domain: %v", service, domain)
-			if err := r.manageRoutes(service, action, domain); err != nil {
-				logger.Tracef("Failed to manage route for %v domain: %v", service, domain)
-			}
+		// if the routes exist save them
+		if len(routes) > 0 {
+			logger.Tracef("Creating routes for service %v domain: %v", service, domain)
+			// save the routes without pumping out events
+			r.table.saveRoutes(service.Name, routes)
 			continue
 		}
 
@@ -184,10 +220,11 @@ func (r *rtr) manageRegistryRoutes(reg registry.Registry, action string) error {
 
 		// manage the routes for all returned services
 		for _, srv := range srvs {
-			logger.Tracef("Creating route %v domain: %v", srv, domain)
-			if err := r.manageRoutes(srv, action, domain); err != nil {
-				logger.Tracef("Failed to manage route for %v domain: %v", srv, domain)
-				continue
+			routes := r.createRoutes(srv, domain)
+
+			if len(routes) > 0 {
+				logger.Tracef("Creating routes for service %v domain: %v", srv, domain)
+				r.table.saveRoutes(srv.Name, routes)
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -195,40 +232,29 @@ func (r *rtr) manageRegistryRoutes(reg registry.Registry, action string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// fetchRoutes retrieves all the routes for a given service and creates them in the routing table
-func (r *rtr) fetchRoutes(service string) error {
+// lookup retrieves all the routes for a given service and creates them in the routing table
+func (r *rtr) lookup(service string) ([]router.Route, error) {
 	logger.Tracef("Fetching route for %s domain: %v", service, registry.WildcardDomain)
+
 	services, err := r.options.Registry.GetService(service, registry.GetDomain(registry.WildcardDomain))
 	if err == registry.ErrNotFound {
 		logger.Tracef("Failed to find route for %s", service)
-		return nil
+		return nil, router.ErrRouteNotFound
 	} else if err != nil {
 		logger.Tracef("Failed to find route for %s: %v", service, err)
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed getting services: %v", err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed getting services: %v", err)
 	}
 
+	var routes []router.Route
+
 	for _, srv := range services {
-		var domain string
-
-		// since a wildcard query was performed, the service could belong
-		// to one of many namespaces, to get this information we check
-		// the node metadata. TODO: Add Domain to registry.Service
-		if srv.Metadata != nil && len(srv.Metadata["domain"]) > 0 {
-			domain = srv.Metadata["domain"]
-		} else if len(srv.Nodes) > 0 && srv.Nodes[0].Metadata != nil {
-			domain = srv.Nodes[0].Metadata["domain"]
-		} else {
-			domain = registry.WildcardDomain
-		}
-
-		logger.Tracef("Creating route %v domain: %v", srv, domain)
-		if err := r.manageRoutes(srv, "create", domain); err != nil {
-			logger.Tracef("Failed to create route for %v domain %v: %v", err)
-			continue
-		}
+		domain := getDomain(srv)
+		// TODO: should we continue to send the event indicating we created a route?
+		// lookup is only called in the query path so probably not
+		routes = append(routes, r.createRoutes(srv, domain)...)
 	}
 
-	return nil
+	return routes, nil
 }
 
 // watchRegistry watches registry and updates routing table based on the received events.
@@ -252,6 +278,7 @@ func (r *rtr) watchRegistry(w registry.Watcher) error {
 	}()
 
 	for {
+		// get the next service
 		res, err := w.Next()
 		if err != nil {
 			if err != registry.ErrWatcherStopped {
@@ -260,18 +287,15 @@ func (r *rtr) watchRegistry(w registry.Watcher) error {
 			break
 		}
 
+		// don't process nil entries
 		if res.Service == nil {
 			continue
 		}
 
 		// get the services domain from metadata. Fallback to wildcard.
-		var domain string
-		if res.Service.Metadata != nil && len(res.Service.Metadata["domain"]) > 0 {
-			domain = res.Service.Metadata["domain"]
-		} else {
-			domain = registry.WildcardDomain
-		}
+		domain := getDomain(res.Service)
 
+		// create/update or delete the route
 		if err := r.manageRoutes(res.Service, res.Action, domain); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -496,8 +520,8 @@ func (r *rtr) start() error {
 
 	if r.options.Precache {
 		// add all local service routes into the routing table
-		if err := r.manageRegistryRoutes(r.options.Registry, "create"); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("failed adding registry routes: %s", err)
+		if err := r.loadRoutes(r.options.Registry); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed loading registry routes: %s", err)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -521,6 +545,28 @@ func (r *rtr) start() error {
 	// create error and exit channels
 	r.exit = make(chan bool)
 
+	// periodically refresh all the routes
+	go func() {
+		t1 := time.NewTicker(RefreshInterval)
+		defer t1.Stop()
+
+		t2 := time.NewTicker(PruneInterval)
+		defer t2.Stop()
+
+		for {
+			select {
+			case <-r.exit:
+				return
+			case <-t2.C:
+				r.table.pruneRoutes(RefreshInterval)
+			case <-t1.C:
+				if err := r.loadRoutes(r.options.Registry); err != nil {
+					logger.Errorf("failed refreshing registry routes: %s", err)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+
 	go func() {
 		var err error
 		var w registry.Watcher
diff --git a/table.go b/table.go
index 5bfee76..d695604 100644
--- a/table.go
+++ b/table.go
@@ -12,20 +12,98 @@ import (
 // table is an in-memory routing table
 type table struct {
 	sync.RWMutex
-	// fetchRoutes for a service
-	fetchRoutes func(string) error
+	// lookup for a service
+	lookup func(string) ([]router.Route, error)
 	// routes stores service routes
-	routes map[string]map[uint64]router.Route
+	routes map[string]map[uint64]*route
 	// watchers stores table watchers
 	watchers map[string]*tableWatcher
 }
 
+type route struct {
+	route   router.Route
+	updated time.Time
+}
+
 // newtable creates a new routing table and returns it
-func newTable(fetchRoutes func(string) error, opts ...router.Option) *table {
+func newTable(lookup func(string) ([]router.Route, error), opts ...router.Option) *table {
 	return &table{
-		fetchRoutes: fetchRoutes,
-		routes:      make(map[string]map[uint64]router.Route),
-		watchers:    make(map[string]*tableWatcher),
+		lookup:   lookup,
+		routes:   make(map[string]map[uint64]*route),
+		watchers: make(map[string]*tableWatcher),
+	}
+}
+
+// pruneRoutes will prune routes older than the time specified
+func (t *table) pruneRoutes(olderThan time.Duration) {
+	var routes []router.Route
+
+	t.Lock()
+
+	// search for all the routes
+	for _, routeList := range t.routes {
+		for _, r := range routeList {
+			// if any route is older than
+			if time.Since(r.updated).Seconds() > olderThan.Seconds() {
+				routes = append(routes, r.route)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	t.Unlock()
+
+	// delete the routes we've found
+	for _, route := range routes {
+		t.Delete(route)
+	}
+}
+
+// deleteService removes the entire service
+func (t *table) deleteService(service, network string) {
+	t.Lock()
+
+	routes, ok := t.routes[service]
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+
+	// delete the routes for the service
+	for hash, rt := range routes {
+		// TODO: check if this causes a problem
+		// with * in the network if that is a thing
+		// or blank strings
+		if rt.route.Network != network {
+			continue
+		}
+		delete(routes, hash)
+	}
+
+	// delete the map for the service if its empty
+	if len(routes) == 0 {
+		delete(t.routes, service)
+		return
+	}
+
+	// save the routes
+	t.routes[service] = routes
+
+	t.Unlock()
+}
+
+// saveRoutes completely replaces the routes for a service
+func (t *table) saveRoutes(service string, routes []router.Route) {
+	t.Lock()
+	defer t.Unlock()
+
+	// delete old routes
+	delete(t.routes, service)
+	// make new map
+	t.routes[service] = make(map[uint64]*route)
+
+	// iterate through new routes and save
+	for _, rt := range routes {
+		// save the new route
+		t.routes[service][rt.Hash()] = &route{rt, time.Now()}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -58,20 +136,25 @@ func (t *table) Create(r router.Route) error {
 
 	// check if there are any routes in the table for the route destination
 	if _, ok := t.routes[service]; !ok {
-		t.routes[service] = make(map[uint64]router.Route)
+		t.routes[service] = make(map[uint64]*route)
 	}
 
 	// add new route to the table for the route destination
-	if _, ok := t.routes[service][sum]; !ok {
-		t.routes[service][sum] = r
-		if logger.V(logger.DebugLevel, logger.DefaultLogger) {
-			logger.Debugf("Router emitting %s for route: %s", router.Create, r.Address)
-		}
-		go t.sendEvent(&router.Event{Type: router.Create, Timestamp: time.Now(), Route: r})
-		return nil
+	if _, ok := t.routes[service][sum]; ok {
+		return router.ErrDuplicateRoute
 	}
 
-	return router.ErrDuplicateRoute
+	// create the route
+	t.routes[service][sum] = &route{r, time.Now()}
+
+	if logger.V(logger.DebugLevel, logger.DefaultLogger) {
+		logger.Debugf("Router emitting %s for route: %s", router.Create, r.Address)
+	}
+
+	// send a route created event
+	go t.sendEvent(&router.Event{Type: router.Create, Timestamp: time.Now(), Route: r})
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Delete deletes the route from the routing table
@@ -90,10 +173,14 @@ func (t *table) Delete(r router.Route) error {
 		return router.ErrRouteNotFound
 	}
 
+	// delete the route from the service
 	delete(t.routes[service], sum)
+
+	// delete the whole map if there are no routes left
 	if len(t.routes[service]) == 0 {
 		delete(t.routes, service)
 	}
+
 	if logger.V(logger.DebugLevel, logger.DefaultLogger) {
 		logger.Debugf("Router emitting %s for route: %s", router.Delete, r.Address)
 	}
@@ -112,11 +199,13 @@ func (t *table) Update(r router.Route) error {
 
 	// check if the route destination has any routes in the table
 	if _, ok := t.routes[service]; !ok {
-		t.routes[service] = make(map[uint64]router.Route)
+		t.routes[service] = make(map[uint64]*route)
 	}
 
 	if _, ok := t.routes[service][sum]; !ok {
-		t.routes[service][sum] = r
+		// update the route
+		t.routes[service][sum] = &route{r, time.Now()}
+
 		if logger.V(logger.DebugLevel, logger.DefaultLogger) {
 			logger.Debugf("Router emitting %s for route: %s", router.Update, r.Address)
 		}
@@ -125,7 +214,7 @@ func (t *table) Update(r router.Route) error {
 	}
 
 	// just update the route, but dont emit Update event
-	t.routes[service][sum] = r
+	t.routes[service][sum] = &route{r, time.Now()}
 
 	return nil
 }
@@ -138,7 +227,7 @@ func (t *table) List() ([]router.Route, error) {
 	var routes []router.Route
 	for _, rmap := range t.routes {
 		for _, route := range rmap {
-			routes = append(routes, route)
+			routes = append(routes, route.route)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -187,12 +276,21 @@ func isMatch(route router.Route, address, gateway, network, rtr string, strategy
 	return true
 }
 
-// findRoutes finds all the routes for given network and router and returns them
-func findRoutes(routes map[uint64]router.Route, address, gateway, network, rtr string, strategy router.Strategy) []router.Route {
+// filterRoutes finds all the routes for given network and router and returns them
+func filterRoutes(routes map[uint64]*route, opts router.QueryOptions) []router.Route {
+	address := opts.Address
+	gateway := opts.Gateway
+	network := opts.Network
+	rtr := opts.Router
+	strategy := opts.Strategy
+
 	// routeMap stores the routes we're going to advertise
 	routeMap := make(map[string][]router.Route)
 
-	for _, route := range routes {
+	for _, rt := range routes {
+		// get the actual route
+		route := rt.route
+
 		if isMatch(route, address, gateway, network, rtr, strategy) {
 			// add matchihg route to the routeMap
 			routeKey := route.Service + "@" + route.Network
@@ -254,7 +352,7 @@ func (t *table) Query(q ...router.QueryOption) ([]router.Route, error) {
 			return nil, false
 		}
 
-		return findRoutes(routes, q.Address, q.Gateway, q.Network, q.Router, q.Strategy), true
+		return filterRoutes(routes, q), true
 	}
 
 	if opts.Service != "*" {
@@ -263,11 +361,17 @@ func (t *table) Query(q ...router.QueryOption) ([]router.Route, error) {
 			return routes, nil
 		}
 
-		// load the cache and try again
-		if err := t.fetchRoutes(opts.Service); err != nil {
+		// lookup the route and try again
+		// TODO: move this logic out of the hot path
+		// being hammered on queries will require multiple lookups
+		routes, err := t.lookup(opts.Service)
+		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
+		// cache the routes
+		t.saveRoutes(opts.Service, routes)
+
 		// try again
 		if routes, ok := readAndFilter(opts); ok {
 			return routes, nil
@@ -278,9 +382,17 @@ func (t *table) Query(q ...router.QueryOption) ([]router.Route, error) {
 
 	// search through all destinations
 	t.RLock()
+
 	for _, routes := range t.routes {
-		results = append(results, findRoutes(routes, opts.Address, opts.Gateway, opts.Network, opts.Router, opts.Strategy)...)
+		// filter the routes
+		found := filterRoutes(routes, opts)
+		// ensure we don't append zero length routes
+		if len(found) == 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		results = append(results, found...)
 	}
+
 	t.RUnlock()
 
 	return results, nil
diff --git a/table_test.go b/table_test.go
index 5e2590f..4fa4131 100644
--- a/table_test.go
+++ b/table_test.go
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import (
 
 func testSetup() (*table, router.Route) {
 	routr := NewRouter().(*rtr)
-	table := newTable(routr.fetchRoutes)
+	table := newTable(routr.lookup)
 
 	route := router.Route{
 		Service: "dest.svc",
@@ -304,9 +304,8 @@ func TestFallback(t *testing.T) {
 		Link:    router.DefaultLink,
 		Metric:  router.DefaultLocalMetric,
 	}
-	r.table = newTable(func(s string) error {
-		r.table.Create(route)
-		return nil
+	r.table = newTable(func(s string) ([]router.Route, error) {
+		return []router.Route{route}, nil
 	})
 	r.start()
 
@@ -338,8 +337,8 @@ func TestFallbackError(t *testing.T) {
 		subscribers: make(map[string]chan *router.Advert),
 		options:     router.DefaultOptions(),
 	}
-	r.table = newTable(func(s string) error {
-		return fmt.Errorf("ERROR")
+	r.table = newTable(func(s string) ([]router.Route, error) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("ERROR")
 	})
 	r.start()
 	_, err := r.Lookup(router.QueryService("go.micro.service.foo"))