A method and apparatus for resolving ambiguity in reception of multiple retransmitted frames includes ascertaining for each data frame received from a transmitter whether the frame is a retransmitted frame. If the frame is a retransmitted frame, the frame may be stored in a resequencing buffer. If an abort timer associated with the second round of retransmission has been set for the retransmitted frame, an associated negative-acknowledgment-list (NAK-list) entry is not removed from a NAK list until the abort timer has expired. If the abort timer has not been set for the retransmitted frame, the associated NAK-list entry is removed from the NAK list. The method and apparatus may reside in a transport function in which a transmitter sends data frames to a receiver in accordance with the Radio Link Protocol interface. The transport function may reside in, e.g., a data-capable cellular or satellite-based base station and subscriber unit.