A method for generating a filtered signal quality value used in a power control system of a wireless communication apparatus. An estimated signal quality value of a received signal is generated. A filtered signal quality value is generated based on the estimated signal quality value. The filtered signal quality value is generated in dependence of at least one of registering a difference between a first and a second reference signal quality value, and a change in transmitted power of said received signal. A power control device (20) comprising a signal quality estimator (23), a BLER estimator (22), a regulator (24), and an inner loop (25) is configured to implement the method.