In accordance with one example embodiment, there is provided a method that includes determining whether a received overload message includes a traffic load reduction indication element; determining a percentage of network elements to which to relay the received overload message if the received overload message includes the traffic load reduction indication element; and selecting ones of the network elements to which to send the received overload message based on the determined percentage. The method may further include modifying the received message to change a value of the traffic load reduction indication element; and sending the modified message to the selected ones of the network elements. In some embodiments, the received overload message includes a mobility management element (“MME”) START message.