Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to selecting a deferral period after detecting an error in a received packet by an apparatus for wireless communications. The apparatus generally includes an interface configured to obtain a frame received over a medium, and a processing system configured to detect an occurrence of an error when processing the frame, determine an intended recipient of the frame based on information included in the frame, and select a deferral period, after detecting the occurrence of the error, during which the apparatus refrains from transmitting on the medium, wherein the selection is based, at least in part, on the determination.
