This disclosure describes techniques operating a client device to communicate with a wireless access point. The client device may awake from a low power mode of operation receive a first portion of a beacon from the access point that includes a delivery traffic identification (DTIM) message. According to the techniques described herein, the client device may determine, based on the DTIM message, whether or not one or more packets of data are forthcoming from the access point. If one or more packets of data are forthcoming from the access point, the client device may remain in an active mode of operation to receive the forthcoming packets (and/or a second portion of the beacon). However, if no packets of data are forthcoming from the access point, the client device may return to the low power mode of operation, before receiving and/or processing the second portion of the beacon.