Disclosed is a method for processing code blocks as implemented by a baseband processor. The method involves performing a cyclic redundancy check on decoded and deinterleaved code blocks until one fails its CRC check. On first failure the baseband processor requests a retransmission of the code blocks and resumes CRC checks on the retransmitted code blocks, beginning at the code block that had failed. In the event of subsequent failures, the baseband processor performs a soft combine on the failed retransmitted block with its original transmitted counterpart. Only if the soft combined code block fails does the baseband processor request another retransmission. In this case, subsequent CRC failures result in soft combines of three corresponding code words, making the process more robust. The method reduces the number of retransmissions as well as the computing resources needed for processing incoming code blocks.