Methods and systems are provided for overriding a most-recently-used (MRU) table for system acquisition. In an embodiment, a mobile station maintains an MRU table populated with data identifying one or more networks to which the mobile station was most recently connected, and the mobile station is arranged to conduct system acquisition by referencing the MRU table prior to referencing a preferred roaming list (PRL). The mobile station receives an MRU-override instruction from a wireless network, and modifies its MRU table according to the instruction, producing a modified MRU table, and conducts at least one subsequent system acquisition with reference to the modified MRU table.