The disclosure provides for reporting a channel quality indicator (CQI) in wireless communications. A user equipment (UE) may determine that a calculated CQI value to be reported in a current sub-frame is affected by a deterministic null scheduling on a downlink channel. The UE may determine a compensatory CQI value. The UE may report the lesser of the calculated CQI value and the compensatory CQI value in response to determining that the calculated CQI value is affected by the deterministic null scheduling. In an aspect, the deterministic null scheduling is associated with a compressed mode gap. The UE may determine whether the calculated CQI value is affected by the deterministic null scheduling by determining whether the current sub-frame is within a first time period before the start of the compressed mode gap or within a second time period after the end of the compressed mode gap.