According to some embodiments, a radio network controller (RNC) facilitates a communication session for a wireless device in soft handover with an active set of cells. The active set of cells includes a serving cell (which provides an HS-DSCH connection) and a plurality of non-serving cells. The RNC attempts to admit the HS-DSCH connection in a first non-serving cell that satisfies each of one or more HS-DSCH cell change requirements and provides the best signal strength to the wireless device. If a failure occurs, the RNC attempts to admit the HS-DSCH connection in a second non-serving cell that satisfies each of the HS-DSCH cell change requirements and provides the second best signal strength to the wireless device. If successful, the RNC facilitates moving the HS-DSCH connection from the serving cell to the second non-serving cell.