Systems and methods that manage effects of discarded SDUs during handover. Aspects of the subject innovation maintain order for arrival of PDCP SDUs when a UE encounters a lost PDCP, which has resulted from a dropped SDU at the source eNB—before assignment of an associated PDCP SN. By initially assigning all SDUs corresponding PDCP SNs, a PDCP SN gap or hole can then be encountered upon dropping of a PDCP SDU. To manage PDCP SN gaps or holes thus generated, an internal time out can be designated to terminate an associated UE's delay for such SN hole(s) via a time out. Other aspects enable the source eNB to send a PDCP Status Message to the UE (via the target eNB) to abort the SN gaps or holes resulting from a dropped PDCP SN.