In a code division multiple access wireless communication system having at least one base transceiver station and at least one mobile station having a mobile station receiver assembly configured to receive a coded signal having an information-bearing signal portion and an associated interfering signal portion from the base transceiver station, a method and apparatus for automatic gain control compensation in the mobile station receiver assembly, is disclosed. The method includes causing a gain adjustment to the coded signal by an AGC circuit in the mobile station receiver assembly to produce a post-AGC signal having a post-AGC interfering signal portion with an associated post-AGC interfering signal power level, and an associated gain error value. The method further includes compensating for the gain adjustment to the coded signal if the number of receiver fingers assigned to demodulate the coded signal is less than or equal to a predetermined number.