An apparatus includes a low density parity check decoder operable to iteratively generate messages between a plurality of check nodes and variable nodes, and to calculate a fractional quality metric for a data block as it is decoded in the low density parity check decoder based at least in part on perceived values of data in the variable nodes. The fractional unsatisfied check quality metric is a probabilistic determination of a number of unsatisfied parity checks in the low density parity check decoder.