An apparatus and method for providing pacing pulses to a second site when the pacing pulses are inhibited from being provided to a first site. A first cardiac signal and a second cardiac signal are sensed, where both the first and second cardiac signals include indications of cardiac events. A cardiac rate is determined from the cardiac events in one of the first cardiac signal or the second cardiac signal, and pacing pulses are provided to the first cardiac region in order to maintain the cardiac rate at at least a minimum rate value. A pace protection interval starts when a cardiac event is detected in the first cardiac signal. The pace protection interval inhibits delivery of pacing pulses to the first cardiac region. When pacing pulses to the first cardiac region are inhibited because of the pace protection interval, pacing pulses are provided to the second cardiac region at a safety interval timed from the inhibited pacing pulse to the first cardiac region.