A method and apparatus for indicating a transmission status to a higher layer are disclosed. In the transmitting entity, a radio link control (RLC) entity sends a packet delivery notification regarding delivery status of a higher layer message to a higher layer entity based on hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback information obtained from an HARQ entity. The RLC entity may send the packet delivery notification to the higher layer entity based on an RLC status report. Alternatively, the HARQ entity may send the packet delivery notification to the higher layer entity and/or the RLC entity based on HARQ feedback. The higher layer entity may update the higher layer message before retransmitting the higher layer message. If the RLC entity segments an RLC service data unit (SDU) and delivery of at least one segment of the RLC SDU fails, the RLC entity may discard the RLC SDU.