A method controls the power-transmission in a machine having a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and a power source operatively coupled together in a powertrain. The method regulates operation of the CVT with a retarding power limit in order to limit the amount of retarding power transferable from the powertrain to the power source. The retarding power may be utilized to decelerate or decrease the speed of the machine. The method may register an operator input signal indicative of a deceleration event from a plurality of possible deceleration events. The deceleration event is compared to a lookup table to determine if the retarding power limit should be adjusted. The method may adjust the retarding power limit in accordance with the comparison.