Methods, apparatus, and systems for preventing false packet acceptance in high-speed links. In accordance with one aspect, embodiments are disclosed that facilitate assessing the probability of error bursts in receivers that include decision feedback equalizers (DFEs) and that perform non-contiguous mapping of received bits to frame bits. From this probability, calculation of a mean-time to false packet acceptance (MTTFPA) may be determined, and indication that a projected link MTTFPA is too low can be used to trigger an alert or invoke some safety mechanism. Associated operations may then be performed to ensure the link is prevented from being operated in an unsafe condition under which false packet acceptance may occur.