When a requesting node (402) has routing capabilities and attempts to join a network and there are no association slots available, the requesting node (402) will send an association message to a potential root node (401). If the root node (401) has reached the maximum number of links, and has a non-routing capable node (403) associated with it, the root node (401) will send a message to the non-routing capable node (403), instructing it to disassociate and attempt to re-associate at a later time. A message is then sent to the requesting node (402) for it to associate with the root node (401).