The automatic frequency correction value applied by a receiver is altered to minimize long-term drift of a path delay profile. In one embodiment, the phase or timing error resulting from constant frequency corrections is accumulated, and an estimated frequency correction value is selectively quantized into an actual frequency correction value in response to the accumulated phase/timing error. The quantized value above or below the estimate is selected to minimize the accumulated phase/timing error that gives rise to path delay profile drift. In another embodiment, a timing circuit measures the instantaneous path delay profile drift incurred with each frequency correction, and integrates the instantaneous drift measurements over time to yield a path delay profile drift. The drift (or its rate of change) is then used to adjust a frequency correction value so as to minimize the drift.