An access point is configured to communicate with a wireless client device over a plurality of wireless communication channels. The wireless client device has an active operation state and a standby operation state. The access point detects a property of each of a first wireless communication channel and a second wireless communication channel, and applies a policy to the detected properties to select one of the first wireless communication channel and the second wireless communication channel. While the wireless client device is in the active operation state, the access point steers the client device to communicate with the access point over the selected channel.