diff --git a/include/net/cfg802154.h b/include/net/cfg802154.h
index 0d3e9af00198..a64bbcd71f10 100644
--- a/include/net/cfg802154.h
+++ b/include/net/cfg802154.h
@@ -507,6 +507,7 @@ struct wpan_dev {
 	struct ieee802154_pan_device *parent;
 	struct list_head children;
 	unsigned int max_associations;
+	unsigned int nchildren;
 };
 
 #define to_phy(_dev)	container_of(_dev, struct wpan_phy, dev)
diff --git a/net/ieee802154/core.c b/net/ieee802154/core.c
index 2d6fe45efa05..60e8fff1347e 100644
--- a/net/ieee802154/core.c
+++ b/net/ieee802154/core.c
@@ -212,6 +212,8 @@ static void cfg802154_free_peer_structures(struct wpan_dev *wpan_dev)
 		kfree(child);
 	}
 
+	wpan_dev->nchildren = 0;
+
 	mutex_unlock(&wpan_dev->association_lock);
 }
 
diff --git a/net/mac802154/cfg.c b/net/mac802154/cfg.c
index 083de2d3fe37..17e2032fac24 100644
--- a/net/mac802154/cfg.c
+++ b/net/mac802154/cfg.c
@@ -454,6 +454,7 @@ static int mac802154_disassociate_child(struct wpan_phy *wpan_phy,
 		return ret;
 
 	list_del(&child->node);
+	wpan_dev->nchildren--;
 	kfree(child);
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/net/mac802154/scan.c b/net/mac802154/scan.c
index d5f66c204bc5..81d2c2bb1f09 100644
--- a/net/mac802154/scan.c
+++ b/net/mac802154/scan.c
@@ -800,20 +800,32 @@ int mac802154_process_association_req(struct ieee802154_sub_if_data *sdata,
 	child->mode = IEEE802154_EXTENDED_ADDRESSING;
 	ceaddr = swab64((__force u64)child->extended_addr);
 
-	assoc_resp_pl.status = IEEE802154_ASSOCIATION_SUCCESSFUL;
-	if (assoc_req_pl.alloc_addr) {
-		assoc_resp_pl.short_addr = cfg802154_get_free_short_addr(wpan_dev);
-		child->mode = IEEE802154_SHORT_ADDRESSING;
+	if (wpan_dev->nchildren >= wpan_dev->max_associations) {
+		if (!wpan_dev->max_associations)
+			assoc_resp_pl.status = IEEE802154_PAN_ACCESS_DENIED;
+		else
+			assoc_resp_pl.status = IEEE802154_PAN_AT_CAPACITY;
+		assoc_resp_pl.short_addr = cpu_to_le16(IEEE802154_ADDR_SHORT_BROADCAST);
+		dev_dbg(&sdata->dev->dev,
+			"Refusing ASSOC REQ from child %8phC, %s\n", &ceaddr,
+			assoc_resp_pl.status == IEEE802154_PAN_ACCESS_DENIED ?
+			"access denied" : "too many children");
 	} else {
-		assoc_resp_pl.short_addr = cpu_to_le16(IEEE802154_ADDR_SHORT_UNSPEC);
+		assoc_resp_pl.status = IEEE802154_ASSOCIATION_SUCCESSFUL;
+		if (assoc_req_pl.alloc_addr) {
+			assoc_resp_pl.short_addr = cfg802154_get_free_short_addr(wpan_dev);
+			child->mode = IEEE802154_SHORT_ADDRESSING;
+		} else {
+			assoc_resp_pl.short_addr = cpu_to_le16(IEEE802154_ADDR_SHORT_UNSPEC);
+		}
+		child->short_addr = assoc_resp_pl.short_addr;
+		dev_dbg(&sdata->dev->dev,
+			"Accepting ASSOC REQ from child %8phC, providing short address 0x%04x\n",
+			&ceaddr, le16_to_cpu(child->short_addr));
 	}
-	child->short_addr = assoc_resp_pl.short_addr;
-	dev_dbg(&sdata->dev->dev,
-		"Accepting ASSOC REQ from child %8phC, providing short address 0x%04x\n",
-		&ceaddr, le16_to_cpu(child->short_addr));
 
 	ret = mac802154_send_association_resp_locked(sdata, child, &assoc_resp_pl);
-	if (ret) {
+	if (ret || assoc_resp_pl.status != IEEE802154_ASSOCIATION_SUCCESSFUL) {
 		kfree(child);
 		goto unlock;
 	}
@@ -834,6 +846,7 @@ int mac802154_process_association_req(struct ieee802154_sub_if_data *sdata,
 	}
 
 	list_add(&child->node, &wpan_dev->children);
+	wpan_dev->nchildren++;
 
 unlock:
 	mutex_unlock(&wpan_dev->association_lock);