Disclosed herein are exemplary techniques for initiating a direct wireless link between two wireless devices. The system and method include transmitting, from a first wireless device, a first frame having a destination media access control (MAC) address of the second wireless device, wherein the first frame includes direct link information encapsulated at the logical link control level; receiving, at the first wireless device, a second frame from a second wireless device, the second frame having a destination MAC address and being intended for the first wireless device, wherein the second frame includes direct link information encapsulated at the logical link control level; and establishing a direct wireless link between the first wireless device and the second wireless device when a third frame is transmitted from the first wireless device, the third frame having a destination media access control (MAC) address of the second wireless device, wherein the third frame includes direct link information encapsulated at the logical link control level.