A method (100) of operating an Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) transmitter (102) and an ARQ receiver (104) suspends an ARQ reset under circumstances where an ARQ reset would be superfluous. When a transmitter has a final currently-available data block, it deactivates its transmitter ARQ sync loss timer (172) and transmits a ‘suspend ARQ reset’ signal (122). Upon receipt of the ‘suspend ARQ reset’ signal (122), the receiver deactivates its receiver ARQ sync loss timer (176) and sends ARQ feedback (128). At this point, the ARQ connection can be maintained without superfluous ARQ resets even when no ARQ data blocks are being sent. When resuming transmission of ARQ data blocks, the transmitter activates its transmitter ARQ sync loss timer (182) and transmits an ARQ data block (142). The receiver receives the ARQ data block, activates its receiver ARQ sync loss timer (186) and sends ARQ feedback (148).