diff --git a/src/discovery/disc_server.py b/src/discovery/disc_server.py
index de9bfeb9cc6..d1fb17b34de 100644
--- a/src/discovery/disc_server.py
+++ b/src/discovery/disc_server.py
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ def __init__(self, args):
             'throttle_subs':0,
             '503': 0,
             'count_lb': 0,
+            'auto_lb': 0,
         }
         self._ts_use = 1
         self.short_ttl_map = {}
@@ -616,17 +617,28 @@ def api_subscribe(self):
             plist = dict((entry['service_id'],entry) for entry in pubs_active)
             plist_all = dict((entry['service_id'],entry) for entry in pubs)
             policy = self.get_service_config(service_type, 'policy')
+
+            # Auto load-balance is triggered if enabled and some servers are
+            # more than 5% off expected average allocation.
+            load_balance = self.get_service_config(service_type, 'load-balance')
+            if load_balance:
+                total_subs = sum([entry['in_use'] for entry in pubs_active])
+                avg = total_subs/len(pubs_active)
+
             for service_id, expired in subs:
                 # expired True if service was marked for deletion by LB command
                 # previously published service is gone
                 # force renew for fixed policy since some service may have flapped
-                entry2 = plist_all.get(service_id, None)
                 entry = plist.get(service_id, None)
-                if entry is None or expired or policy == 'fixed':
+                if entry is None or expired or policy == 'fixed' or (load_balance and entry['in_use'] > int(1.05*avg)):
                     self._db_conn.delete_subscription(service_type, client_id, service_id)
                     # delete fixed policy server if expired
-                    if policy == 'fixed' and entry is None and entry2:
-                        self._db_conn.delete_service(entry2)
+                    if policy == 'fixed' and entry is None:
+                        self._db_conn.delete_service(plist_all.get(service_id, None))
+                    # load-balance one at at time to avoid churn
+                    if load_balance and entry and entry['in_use'] > int(1.05*avg):
+                        self._debug['auto_lb'] += 1
+                        load_balance = False
                     continue
                 result = entry['info'].copy()
                 result['@publisher-id'] = entry['service_id']
@@ -1103,6 +1115,7 @@ def parse_args(args_str):
     # per service options
     default_service_opts = {
         'policy': None,
+        'load-balance': False,
     }
 
     cassandra_opts = {