A method and apparatus for initializing a transceiver in a wireless communication system. In one embodiment, a method for initializing a transceiver that is part of an apparatus for use in a wireless communication system for communicating with WirelessHD devices in a wireless network, where the apparatus comprises a host processor; a transceiver; a physical interface coupling the host processor and the transceiver; and a memory accessible by the host processor and the transceiver to exchange information between the host processor and the transceiver, the initialization method comprising resetting the transceiver by initializing internal hardware and software subsystems of the transceiver; after resetting the transceiver, the transceiver entering a configuration state to configure the transceiver; configuring the transceiver, such that the transceiver is configured as part of initialization; and after configuration, the transceiver entering a wait enable state during which the transceiver waits for its wireless interface to be enabled before wireless operation of the transceiver becomes active.