A system and method to interrupt a component of a mobile communication device based on a mute command and a monitored operating condition is disclosed. In another particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a mute command at a mobile communication device while the mobile communication device is performing audio content processing. The method also includes monitoring an operating condition of the mobile communication device in response to receiving the mute command. The method includes determining whether to interrupt a component used to perform the audio content processing based on the monitored operating condition.