This was in fact due to NetworkManager hogging the dbus queue:
Aug 6 17:48:21 castiana NetworkManager[7344]: <warn> Couldn't disconnect supplicant interface: The maximum number of pending replies per connection has been reached.
Aug 6 17:48:21 castiana NetworkManager[7344]: <warn> Couldn't send AP scan mode to the supplicant interface: The maximum number of pending replies per connection has been reached.
Aug 6 17:48:21 castiana NetworkManager[7344]: <info> Activation (wlan0/wireless): association request to the supplicant failed: (null) - The maximum number of pending replies per connection has been reached
Aug 6 17:48:21 castiana NetworkManager[7344]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: config -> failed (reason 'supplicant-failed') [50 120 10]
Aug 6 17:48:21 castiana NetworkManager[7344]: <warn> Activation (wlan0) failed for access point (799-lan-gn)
Aug 6 17:48:21 castiana NetworkManager[7344]: <info> Marking connection '799-lan-gn' invalid.
Aug 6 17:48:21 castiana NetworkManager[7344]: <warn> Activation (wlan0) failed.
Aug 6 17:48:21 castiana NetworkManager[7344]: <warn> Couldn't disconnect supplicant interface: The maximum number of pending replies per connection has been reached.
Aug 6 17:48:21 castiana NetworkManager[7344]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: failed -> disconnected (reason 'none') [120 30 0]
Aug 6 17:48:21 castiana NetworkManager[7344]: <info> (wlan0): deactivating device (reason 'none') [0]
This was in fact due to NetworkManager hogging the dbus queue:
Aug 6 17:48:21 castiana NetworkManager[ 7344]: <warn> Couldn't disconnect supplicant interface: The maximum number of pending replies per connection has been reached. 7344]: <warn> Couldn't send AP scan mode to the supplicant interface: The maximum number of pending replies per connection has been reached. 7344]: <info> Activation (wlan0/wireless): association request to the supplicant failed: (null) - The maximum number of pending replies per connection has been reached 7344]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: config -> failed (reason 'supplicant- failed' ) [50 120 10] 7344]: <warn> Activation (wlan0) failed for access point (799-lan-gn) 7344]: <info> Marking connection '799-lan-gn' invalid. 7344]: <warn> Activation (wlan0) failed. 7344]: <warn> Couldn't disconnect supplicant interface: The maximum number of pending replies per connection has been reached. 7344]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: failed -> disconnected (reason 'none') [120 30 0] 7344]: <info> (wlan0): deactivating device (reason 'none') [0]
Aug 6 17:48:21 castiana NetworkManager[
Aug 6 17:48:21 castiana NetworkManager[
Aug 6 17:48:21 castiana NetworkManager[
Aug 6 17:48:21 castiana NetworkManager[
Aug 6 17:48:21 castiana NetworkManager[
Aug 6 17:48:21 castiana NetworkManager[
Aug 6 17:48:21 castiana NetworkManager[
Aug 6 17:48:21 castiana NetworkManager[
Aug 6 17:48:21 castiana NetworkManager[