Balancing client load on an access point in a wireless digital network. An access point tracks the number of connected users and accepts new connections only if the number of connected users is below a preset threshold. The number of connected users may be tracked on an access point wide basis, a per-band basis, a per-BSSID basis, or a combination. Similarly, accepting new connections may be done on an access point wide basis, a per-band basis, a per-BSSID basis, on the basis of client 802.11 capabilities, or a combination.