diff --git a/main/wifi_transport.c b/main/wifi_transport.c
index 9e2df73..47c9d04 100644
--- a/main/wifi_transport.c
+++ b/main/wifi_transport.c
@@ -86,6 +86,14 @@ static void client_remove_by_mac(const uint8_t *mac)
     xSemaphoreGive(client_mutex);
 }
 
+/* caller must hold client_mutex */
+static void client_remove_by_index(int idx)
+{
+    if (idx < 0 || idx >= client_count) return;
+    printf("REAP: removing client %d\n", idx);
+    clients[idx] = clients[--client_count];
+}
+
 static void parse_udp_sysex(const uint8_t *data, uint16_t len)
 {
     if (len < 3 || data[0] != 0xF0 || data[1] != 0x7D)