The listen interval of a WLAN client is selected to have one of a plurality of values, including a start listen interval (SLI) and one or more longer listen intervals (e.g., transient listen interval (TLI), maximum listen interval (MLI)). The listen interval is set to SLI in response to (1) detecting that an applications processor of the WLAN client is in an awake state, (2) detecting transmit/receive activity on the wireless link, and (3) failing to detect an expected beacon signal on the wireless link. If the listen interval is set to MLI (or TLI) and the WLAN client fails to detect an expected beacon signal (beacon miss), the listen interval is temporarily set to SLI. If the WLAN client then detects an expected beacon signal before detecting a predetermined number of consecutive beacon misses, the listen interval is immediately returned to the original listen interval MLI (or TLI).