A novel and improved method and apparatus provide for controlling an operation of an access terminal while processing a signal from an access point in a communication system. Various aspects of the invention provide for an access terminal to disable a handoff process when its demodulator or decoder is operating to demodulate or decode a control message received from an access point. The operation of the access terminal is controlled in a manner that prevents terminating prematurely the demodulation and decoding process of a control signal by a handoff process. As a result, the access terminal may continue operating in a normal wake up/ sleep cycle period while conserving its battery power.