Methods and apparatus are provided for modulating ACK/NACK persistence to improve data traffic performance. In one implementation, a method for control of automatic repeat requests between a transmitting terminal (102) and a receiving terminal (104) comprises: defining (1404) a buffer window of a buffer, the window to buffer multiple higher layer data blocks each segmented into multiple physical layer data blocks, the window beginning at a current higher layer block in which at least one physical layer block has not been received; obtaining (1406) an indication of whether physical layer blocks are completely received; determining (1408), based on the obtaining step, that a subsequent higher layer block within the window has been completely received; and discarding (1410) the current higher layer block when a time delay of the current higher layer block exceeds an estimate of a delay tolerance corresponding to a higher layer application.