Controlling a wireless connection of a mobile wireless communication device to a wireless communication network. When the mobile wireless communication device is connected to a base transceiver station through a radio frequency link, the mobile wireless communication device detects a signal quality of the radio frequency link. If the detected signal quality is at or below a first threshold and decreasing over a first detection time interval, then the mobile wireless communication device estimates a maximum response time interval until the detected signal quality of the radio frequency link is below a second threshold. The mobile wireless communication device delays transmitting only those control messages that cause the wireless communication network to respond to subsequent control messages beyond the estimated maximum response time interval.