Functionality can be implemented for automatic gain control (AGC) in a wireless network device to determine whether to change the gain of the wireless network device based on determining the strength of an RF signal. At various time instants, the strength of the RF signal can be compared against different thresholds to determine the presence of and severity of the saturation of the RF front end. The gain settings can be adjusted based on comparing the strength of the RF signal with a set of thresholds. This can help the wireless network device receive RF signals with little or no distortion, and can minimize RF saturation, gain compression, false detection and other performance degradation at the wireless network device.