After receiving a handover command (22) that commands a wireless device (16) to perform a make-before-break handover (24), the wireless device (16) continues to receive from a source link (20-0) downlink data packets for an unacknowledged mode bearer (21), until after the wireless device (16) establishes a connection with the target link (20-1) as part of the handover. After the wireless device (16) establishes the connection with the target link (20-1), the wireless device (16) receives from the target link (20-1) downlink data packets for the unacknowledged mode bearer (21). The wireless device (16) preserves a downlink data packet sequence number receiver status for the unacknowledged mode bearer (21), by using the same downlink data packet sequence number receiver status for the unacknowledged mode bearer (21) before and after the handover. Based on the downlink data packet sequence number receiver status as preserved, the wireless device (16) monitors for data packets received in duplicate from the source link (20-0) and the target link (20-1) for the unacknowledged mode bearer (21).