Access terminals are adapted to blacklist one or more neighboring cells from acquisition attempts. For instance, an access terminal may receive a transmission including a list of neighboring cells to be monitored while connected to a particular serving cell. The access terminal may determine that a predefined number of consecutive acquisition attempts with a particular neighboring cell have failed. In response to failure of the predefined number of consecutive acquisition attempts, the access terminal can blacklist the neighboring cell from subsequent acquisition attempts for a predefined blacklisting period. Following the duration of the blacklisting period, the access terminal may conduct a subsequent acquisition attempt with the neighboring cell. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.