1
                                PERKINS COIE LLP
          1201 THIRD AVENUE, 40TH FLOOR SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101-3099
                 TELEPHONE: 206 583-8888 FACSIMILE: 206 583-8500


                                 March 26, 1998




Wall Data Incorporated
11332 N.E. 122nd Way
Kirkland, WA  98034-6931

         RE:      650,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK (NO PAR VALUE) OF
                  WALL DATA INCORPORATED (THE "COMPANY")

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to you in connection with the preparation of a
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") pursuant to
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), which you are filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to 650,000 shares of Common
Stock, no par value (the "Shares"), of Wall Data Incorporated (the "Company"),
which are to be issued pursuant to the Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan As
Amended and Restated on October 15, 1996 (the "1993 Plan") (475,000 shares) and
the Company's 1994 Nonofficer Stock Option Plan As Amended and Restated on
October 15, 1996 (the "Nonofficer Plan") (175,000 shares).

         We have examined the Registration Statement and such other documents
and records of the Company as we have deemed relevant and necessary for the
purposes of this opinion. In giving this opinion, we are assuming the
authenticity of all instruments presented to us as originals, the conformity
with originals of all instruments presented to us as copies and the genuineness
of all signatures.

         Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the
Shares that will be issued pursuant to the Plans, upon the due execution by the
Company and the registration by its registrar of the Shares and the issuance
thereof by the Company 


   2
Wall Data Incorporated
March 26, 1998
Page 2


in accordance with the terms of the Plans, and the receipt of consideration
therefor in accordance with the terms of the Plans, will be validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not admit that we are in
the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.

                                                     Very truly yours,


                                                     PERKINS COIE