A serial low-power inter-chip media bus (SLIMbus) communications link is deployed in apparatus having multiple integrated circuit (IC) devices. Systems, methods and apparatus are described that can improve the operation of SLIMbus communications links. A method includes determining that an interrupt asserted within a first device coupled to a SLIMbus is directed to a second device coupled to the SLIMbus and generating an in-band interrupt (IBI) message identifying the first device as an interrupt source, the second device as an interrupt target, and including information identifying a type and a status associated with the interrupt, and transmitting the IBI message to the second device over the SLIMbus.