--- a/src/ap/sta_info.c
+++ b/src/ap/sta_info.c
@@ -717,7 +717,7 @@ struct sta_info * ap_sta_add(struct host
 		return sta;
 
 	wpa_printf(MSG_DEBUG, "  New STA");
-	if (hapd->num_sta >= hapd->conf->max_num_sta) {
+	if (hostapd_check_max_sta(hapd)) {
 		/* FIX: might try to remove some old STAs first? */
 		wpa_printf(MSG_DEBUG, "no more room for new STAs (%d/%d)",
 			   hapd->num_sta, hapd->conf->max_num_sta);