A method of sensing radio frequency interference (RFI) in a wireless system is provided. The method includes receiving wireless data through a wireless receiver and evaluating received wireless data through a receiver baseband module to identify an occurrence of a signal detection failure by a physical (PHY) layer or a media access control (MAC) layer of the wireless system. The method also includes triggering a radio frequency interference sensing state in response to the occurrence of signal detection failure by the physical layer or the media access control layer of the wireless system.