Embodiments include starting a first timer if a queue state associated with a user equipment (UE) is estimated to equal zero bytes of data and if a last buffer status report received from the UE indicated the queue state to be greater than zero bytes of data, sending a control message granting uplink resources to the UE if the first timer expires, and determining the queue state associated with the UE based, at least in part, on a response to the control message. In specific embodiments the first timer expires if neither a scheduling request nor a buffer status report is received during a first timer interval after the first timer is started. Further embodiments include stopping the first timer if a scheduling request or a buffer status report is received before the first timer expires.