A receiver in a radio communication system and method for optimizing a use of an available dynamic range. The receiver has an automatic gain controller in an automatic gain control loop, a first measuring device, connected to the automatic gain controller, operable to measure a total received energy, a second measuring device, connected to the automatic gain controller, operable to measure the inband signal energy, wherein the automatic gain controller is operable to adjust the gain based on both the total received energy and the inband signal energy.