A method for outer loop power control which compensates for changing channel conditions. A target metric, preferably target signal-to-interference ratio (SIR), is adjusted with differing step up and step down levels to converge on a relatively low steady state level of step up and step down target metric adjustments. The initial target SIR remains fixed during an inner loop settling state, followed by incremental target SIR adjustments during a transient state, and smaller incremental target SIR adjustments in a steady state. Step sizes of the adjustments are preferably based on the target block error rate (BLER) and the number of errors detected within predetermined time intervals.