According to method and apparatus embodiments taught herein, power control feedback is generated for a control channel signal that is received in conjunction with a reference channel signal based on the reference channel's signal strength or quality, and an estimate of a gain factor relating the control and reference channel signals. By way of non-limiting example set in a Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) context, the reference channel signal comprises a Common Pilot Channel (CPICH) signal and the control channel signal comprises a Fractional Dedicated Physical Channel (F-DPCH) signal that is transmitted at an (unknown) power gain relative to the CPICH signal.