Reliable decoding of quick paging channel is provided using first and second page indicators carried in a quick paging channel of a wireless communication system. First and second threshold values are established to determine whether the first and the second page indicators each, as received from a base station to a mobile station, is highly reliable, reasonably reliable, or unreliable. Preferably, the pilot strengths for the first and the second page indicators each is compared with the first and the second page indicators. Depending on the level of reliability of the first and the second page indicators, different actions are taken to determine whether the mobile station enters a sleep mode or decodes a next paging channel slot.