A method, performed in a network element having a control card and a plurality of linecards of processing a plurality of different types of connection setup requests. A latency of processing each of the plurality of the different types of the connection setup requests is determined. A number of connection setup requests to be initiated to be processed by the control card is dynamically adjusted based on the determined latencies of processing each of the plurality of the different types of the connection setup requests. Other methods and network elements are also disclosed.