A system and method of packet zone hysteresis for a mobile station is presented. A packet zone hysteresis reset timer is started whenever the mobile station sends or receives packet data and packet data exchange is determined to be incomplete. The packet zone hysteresis reset timer gives a time duration for which packet data exchange must be completed if packet zone hysteresis information is to be maintained. If the packet zone hysteresis reset timer expires before packet data exchange is completed, then the packet zone hysteresis information is cleared. If the mobile station moves to a different packet zone while packet data exchange is determined to be incomplete or packet data is going to be sent to which a response is expected, then the mobile station will perform a packet data reconnect. According to another aspect, upon detecting that a packet data exchange has completed, the mobile station re-activates packet zone hysteresis if it was de-activated from the packet data exchange.