A lighting wall controller having a capability to reject user inputs at a surface of the wall controller and/or proximity detection in accordance with sensing signals received at locations on and near the wall controller. Programming configures a processor for proximity detection to detect a presence of a conductive object within a predetermined distance to the wall controller. The processor further determines whether user inputs correspond to touches at locations on the wall controller or user gestures near the wall controller to perform one of a plurality of defined lighting functions for a lighting system. When user inputs do not correspond to defined lighting functions, a number of the non-defined inputs is counted to provide an indicator of activity on the surface of the wall controller to activate a locked mode for a duration of the non-defined inputs.