A method for device-to-device (D2D) communication includes determining that a first user equipment (UE) is out-of-coverage, the first UE having been previously in-coverage on a first cell. The method also includes starting a timer upon determining that the first UE is out-of-coverage and determining whether the first UE has returned to be in-coverage after starting the timer. Additionally, the method includes determining whether the timer has expired and communicating, by the first UE directly with a second UE, using out-of-coverage resources from the first cell when the timer has not expired and the first UE has not returned to be in-coverage.