Methods and systems for classifying cardiac responses to pacing stimulation and/or preventing retrograde cardiac conduction are described. Following delivery of a pacing pulse to an atrium of the patient's heart during a cardiac cycle, the system senses in the atrium for a retrograde P-wave. The system classifies the atrial response to the pacing pulse based on detection of the retrograde P-wave. The system may also sense for an atrial evoked response and utilize the atrial evoked response in classifying the cardiac pacing response. If capture is not detected, the system may deliver additional atrial pacing pulses to reduce atrial retrograde conduction. A backup pace may be delivered to prevent the atrial retrograde conduction if an atrial evoked response is not detected during a cardiac cycle. Alternatively, retrograde management may involve delaying a next scheduled pace may be until expiration of an atrial effective refractory period.