The present disclosure includes a system and method for reducing leakage noise in directly sampled radio frequency signals. In some implementations, a Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) reader includes an antenna, an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), a synthesizer module, and a Carrier Noise Reduction (CNR) module. The antenna is configured to receive Radio Frequency (RF) signals and pass the RF signals to a receive path. The ADC is configured to directly sample RF signals in the receive path in accordance with a clock signal and generate a digital signal. The synthesizer module is configured to generate the clock signal and a signal used to upconvert a transmitter signal. The clock signal and the upconversion signal are phase locked. The CNR module is configured to reduce leakage noise in the receive path.