A power control method performed by a mobile communication terminal, the power control method comprising: determining a received signal code power (60; 70) of common pilot channel signals received from a base station on a common pilot channel in at least one time interval; performing a block error rate determination to determine a block error rate for transmissions received from the base station; and performing a downlink outer loop power control, wherein, in response to a connection setup, the downlink outer loop power control is performed in dependence on the determined received signal code power (60; 70) of the common pilot channel signals until the block error rate determination fulfills a convergence criterion, wherein determining the received signal code power (60; 70) comprises: determining a first received signal code power of the common pilot channel signals in a first time interval after the connection setup, and determining a second received signal code power of the common pilot channel signals in a second time interval which starts later than the first time interval; characterized in that the downlink outer loop power control is performed in dependence on a comparison between the second received signal code power and the first received signal code power until the block error rate determination fulfills the convergence criterion, wherein performing the downlink outer loop power control in dependence on the comparison between the second received signal code power and the first received signal code power comprises setting a target signal-to-interference ratio in dependence on a comparison of the second received signal code power and a signal code power threshold (78, 79) which is determined in dependence on the first received signal code power. determining a received signal code power (60; 70) of common pilot channel signals received from a base station on a common pilot channel in at least one time interval; performing a block error rate determination to determine a block error rate for transmissions received from the base station; and performing a downlink outer loop power control, wherein, in response to a connection setup, the downlink outer loop power control is performed in dependence on the determined received signal code power (60; 70) of the common pilot channel signals until the block error rate determination fulfills a convergence criterion, wherein determining the received signal code power (60; 70) comprises: determining a first received signal code power of the common pilot channel signals in a first time interval after the connection setup, and determining a second received signal code power of the common pilot channel signals in a second time interval which starts later than the first time interval; determining a first received signal code power of the common pilot channel signals in a first time interval after the connection setup, and determining a second received signal code power of the common pilot channel signals in a second time interval which starts later than the first time interval; characterized in that the downlink outer loop power control is performed in dependence on a comparison between the second received signal code power and the first received signal code power until the block error rate determination fulfills the convergence criterion, wherein performing the downlink outer loop power control in dependence on the comparison between the second received signal code power and the first received signal code power comprises setting a target signal-to-interference ratio in dependence on a comparison of the second received signal code power and a signal code power threshold (78, 79) which is determined in dependence on the first received signal code power.