Disclosed is a method the present method may help to minimize or avoid ping-ponging between coverage areas of a wireless communication system, by having a radio access network (RAN) give special consideration to power control commands after receipt of a wireless communication device's (WCD's) handoff request. After the RAN receives the WCD's request for handoff from a first coverage area to a second coverage area, the RAN evaluates power control commands from the WCD for the first coverage area for a time period after the handoff request and, based on the evaluation, determines whether the WCD continues to experience poor RF conditions in the first coverage area 22. If so, the RAN may then allow the handoff (e.g., if other conditions such as channel resource availability are met). And otherwise, the RAN may abort the handoff.