A method and apparatus for transmitting signaling messages over the communication channel to a CDMA mobile station. If a one-half, one-quarter, or one-eighth frame voice packet is to be transmitted, augmenting that packet with signaling information to form, essentially, a full rate frame; if no more than N consecutive full rate frames are detected, deferring transmission of the signaling message, and thereafter, if another full frame voice frame is detected, substituting a frame of signaling information for the full frame voice frame. Advantageously, using this arrangement, most short signaling messages can be transmitted to a CDMA mobile station with minimal voice impairment.