* cfg802154_set_max_associations - Limit the number of future associations
  * @wpan_dev: the wpan device
  * @max: the maximum number of devices we accept to associate
+ * @return: the old maximum value
  */
-void cfg802154_set_max_associations(struct wpan_dev *wpan_dev, unsigned int max);
+unsigned int cfg802154_set_max_associations(struct wpan_dev *wpan_dev,
+                                           unsigned int max);
 
 /**
  * cfg802154_get_free_short_addr - Get a free address among the known devices
 
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(cfg802154_get_free_short_addr);
 
-void cfg802154_set_max_associations(struct wpan_dev *wpan_dev, unsigned int max)
+unsigned int cfg802154_set_max_associations(struct wpan_dev *wpan_dev,
+                                           unsigned int max)
 {
+       unsigned int old_max;
+
        lockdep_assert_held(&wpan_dev->association_lock);
 
+       old_max = wpan_dev->max_associations;
        wpan_dev->max_associations = max;
+
+       return old_max;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(cfg802154_set_max_associations);
 
        struct ieee802154_local *local = wpan_phy_priv(wpan_phy);
        struct ieee802154_pan_device *child, *tmp;
        struct ieee802154_sub_if_data *sdata;
+       unsigned int max_assoc;
        u64 eaddr;
        int ret;
 
        /* Start by disassociating all the children and preventing new ones to
         * attempt associations.
         */
+       max_assoc = cfg802154_set_max_associations(wpan_dev, 0);
        list_for_each_entry_safe(child, tmp, &wpan_dev->children, node) {
                ret = mac802154_send_disassociation_notif(sdata, child,
                                                          IEEE802154_COORD_WISHES_DEVICE_TO_LEAVE);
        if (local->hw.flags & IEEE802154_HW_AFILT) {
                ret = drv_set_pan_id(local, wpan_dev->pan_id);
                if (ret < 0)
-                       return ret;
+                       goto reset_mac_assoc;
 
                ret = drv_set_short_addr(local, wpan_dev->short_addr);
                if (ret < 0)
-                       return ret;
+                       goto reset_mac_assoc;
        }
 
-       return 0;
+reset_mac_assoc:
+       cfg802154_set_max_associations(wpan_dev, max_assoc);
+
+       return ret;
 }
 
 static int mac802154_disassociate_child(struct wpan_phy *wpan_phy,