A dual mode cellular cordless portable radiotelephone preferentially selects the cordless base station over the cellular system when in range of the cordless base station. When the cordless cellular portable is operating in the cellular mode, the radio channel associated with the cordless base station is sampled for a predetermined time. When a signal on the sampled cordless base station channel is detected, the cordless portable moves to the cordless mode and remains in the cordless mode for as long as the signal quality of the signal on the cordless base station channel exceeds a predetermined value.