Apparatus and methods to support authentication failure handling by network elements and by a wireless communication device when attempting access to services through non-cellular wireless networks by the wireless communication device are disclosed. Error messages received from evolved packet core (EPC) network elements, such as an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server, are mapped to failure messages provided to wireless communication devices by internetworking equipment, such as an evolved packet data gateway (ePDG). The wireless communication device determines a failures cause based on the failure messages and disallows retry attempts until select criteria are satisfied.