diff --git a/openwisp_ipam/api/views.py b/openwisp_ipam/api/views.py
index 19487ca..8d0a188 100644
--- a/openwisp_ipam/api/views.py
+++ b/openwisp_ipam/api/views.py
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ class SubnetListCreateView(ListCreateAPIView):
     serializer_class = SubnetSerializer
     authentication_classes = (BearerAuthentication, SessionAuthentication)
     permission_classes = (DjangoModelPermissions,)
+    throttle_scope = 'ipam'
     pagination_class = ListViewPagination
     queryset = Subnet.objects.all()
 
diff --git a/openwisp_ipam/apps.py b/openwisp_ipam/apps.py
index 7c1b38f..9265bba 100644
--- a/openwisp_ipam/apps.py
+++ b/openwisp_ipam/apps.py
@@ -1,11 +1,19 @@
-from django.apps import AppConfig
+from django.conf import settings
+from openwisp_utils.api.apps import ApiAppConfig
+from openwisp_utils.utils import default_or_test
 
 from .compat import patch_ipaddress_lib
 
 
-class OpenWispIpamConfig(AppConfig):
+class OpenWispIpamConfig(ApiAppConfig):
     name = 'openwisp_ipam'
     verbose_name = 'IPAM'
 
-    def ready(self):
+    API_ENABLED = getattr(settings, 'OPENWISP_IPAM_API', True)
+    REST_FRAMEWORK_SETTINGS = {
+        'DEFAULT_THROTTLE_RATES': {'ipam': default_or_test('400/hour', None)},
+    }
+
+    def ready(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        super().ready(*args, **kwargs)
         patch_ipaddress_lib()
diff --git a/tests/openwisp2/settings.py b/tests/openwisp2/settings.py
index b1ce768..dab79cf 100644
--- a/tests/openwisp2/settings.py
+++ b/tests/openwisp2/settings.py
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@
 STATIC_URL = '/static/'
 EMAIL_BACKEND = 'django.core.mail.backends.console.EmailBackend'
 OPENWISP_USERS_AUTH_API = True
+OPENWISP_IPAM_API = True
 
 if TESTING:
     OPENWISP_ORGANIZATION_USER_ADMIN = True