This disclosure provides methods, devices and systems for interpreting reserved bits and values associated with different releases of a wireless communication protocol. In some implementations, a wireless communication device may determine whether to terminate or continue reception of a physical layer protocol convergence protocol (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU) if it detects a reserved bit in the physical layer preamble set to an unsupported value (such as a value different than what is defined by a version or release of the wireless communication protocol supported by the wireless communication device). In some other implementations, a wireless communication device may determine whether to terminate or continue reception of a PPDU if it detects a field in the physical layer preamble set to a reserved value (such as defined by a version or release of the wireless communication protocol supported by the wireless communication device).