Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media are described to encode, by a first station (STA), a polling signal for periodic transmission to a second STA during each air activity instance of a plurality of air activity instances. The first STA detects an interface between a MAC layer and a software stack of a communication protocol is in a low-power state. The communication protocol is associated with a communication link between the first STA and the second STA. An empty packet from the second STA is decoded. The empty packet is received in response to the polling signal transmitted during an air activity instance of the plurality of air activity instances. The periodicity of the periodic transmission of the polling signal is adjusted based on the detected low-power state and the decoded empty packet.