A digital radio communication system (200) uses a repeater (216) to relay calls which can not be completed in a direct talk-around mode between two radios. The repeater (216) establishes early synchronization in advance of a pending call by listening to an originator radio (204) attempt to make a direct talk-around call to a target radio (210). Asynchronous digital two-way radio communication systems can benefit from the reduction in voice call connect time.