diff --git a/src/LedgerConsensus.cpp b/src/LedgerConsensus.cpp
index ce064fe47c..73bc3e6821 100644
--- a/src/LedgerConsensus.cpp
+++ b/src/LedgerConsensus.cpp
@@ -688,7 +688,7 @@ bool LedgerConsensus::haveConsensus()
 		else
 			++disagree;
 	}
-	int currentValidations = theApp->getValidations().getCurrentValidationCount(mPreviousLedger->getCloseTimeNC());
+	int currentValidations = theApp->getValidations().getNodesAfter(mPrevLedgerHash);
 	return ContinuousLedgerTiming::haveConsensus(mPreviousProposers, agree + disagree, agree, currentValidations,
 		mPreviousMSeconds, mCurrentMSeconds);
 }
diff --git a/src/LedgerTiming.h b/src/LedgerTiming.h
index 80e89b30f4..551c9bfce6 100644
--- a/src/LedgerTiming.h
+++ b/src/LedgerTiming.h
@@ -28,6 +28,10 @@
 // How often we check state or change positions (in milliseconds)
 #	define LEDGER_GRANULARITY		1000
 
+// The percentage of active trusted validators that must be able to
+// keep up with the network or we consider the network overloaded
+#	define LEDGER_NET_RATIO			70
+
 // How long we consider a proposal fresh
 #	define PROPOSE_FRESHNESS		20
 
diff --git a/src/ValidationCollection.cpp b/src/ValidationCollection.cpp
index b11b38b633..e4d1117549 100644
--- a/src/ValidationCollection.cpp
+++ b/src/ValidationCollection.cpp
@@ -116,19 +116,40 @@ int ValidationCollection::getTrustedValidationCount(const uint256& ledger)
 	return trusted;
 }
 
-int ValidationCollection::getCurrentValidationCount(uint32 afterTime)
-{
+int ValidationCollection::getNodesAfter(const uint256& ledger)
+{ // Number of trusted nodes that have moved past this ledger
 	int count = 0;
 	boost::mutex::scoped_lock sl(mValidationLock);
 	for (boost::unordered_map<uint160, SerializedValidation::pointer>::iterator it = mCurrentValidations.begin(),
 		end = mCurrentValidations.end(); it != end; ++it)
 	{
-		if (it->second->isTrusted() && (it->second->getSignTime() > afterTime))
+		if (it->second->isTrusted() && it->second->isPreviousHash(ledger))
 			++count;
 	}
 	return count;
 }
 
+int ValidationCollection::getLoadRatio(bool overLoaded)
+{ // how many trusted nodes are able to keep up, higher is better
+	int goodNodes = overLoaded ? 1 : 0;
+	int badNodes = overLoaded ? 0 : 1;
+	{
+		boost::mutex::scoped_lock sl(mValidationLock);
+		for (boost::unordered_map<uint160, SerializedValidation::pointer>::iterator it = mCurrentValidations.begin(),
+			end = mCurrentValidations.end(); it != end; ++it)
+		{
+			if (it->second->isTrusted())
+			{
+				if (it->second->isFull())
+					++goodNodes;
+				else
+					++badNodes;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return (goodNodes * 100) / (goodNodes + badNodes);
+}
+
 boost::unordered_map<uint256, int> ValidationCollection::getCurrentValidations(uint256 currentLedger)
 {
     uint32 cutoff = theApp->getOPs().getNetworkTimeNC() - LEDGER_VAL_INTERVAL;
diff --git a/src/ValidationCollection.h b/src/ValidationCollection.h
index 1972b7b63e..95cd4592e0 100644
--- a/src/ValidationCollection.h
+++ b/src/ValidationCollection.h
@@ -34,7 +34,9 @@ public:
 	void getValidationCount(const uint256& ledger, bool currentOnly, int& trusted, int& untrusted);
 
 	int getTrustedValidationCount(const uint256& ledger);
-	int getCurrentValidationCount(uint32 afterTime);
+
+	int getNodesAfter(const uint256& ledger);
+	int getLoadRatio(bool overLoaded);
 
 	boost::unordered_map<uint256, int> getCurrentValidations(uint256 currentLedger = uint256());