Disclosed are various embodiments for assigning a short address to a node in a network. A first node receives an association request that is a request from a second node to join the network. The first node transmits an association response to the second node, whereby the association response permits the second node to conditionally join the network and enter a low-power state. Data from the association request is transmitted to a coordinator node for the network on behalf of the second node. The first node receives a proxy response from the coordinator node in response to the data from the association request. When the second node is active, a notification is transmitted to the second node based on the response to the request. The notification includes an assignment of a short address when the response indicates the second node has joined the network.