Coherence based pre-decoding pruning for control channels in wireless communication systems is discussed. Data is received on at least one channel resource of a plurality of channel resources. In addition, the determining of a plurality of channel coherence metrics is discussed, where a channel coherence metric for a channel resource indicates coherence information between channels on which the plurality of carriers associated with the channel resource operate. Additionally, the determining of one or more channel resources to search for data to be decoded based, at least in part, on the plurality of channel coherence metrics is also discussed. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.