An iterative 
message passing decoder, e.g., an LDPC decoder, operating in conjunction with a soft input-soft output 
signal processing unit, e.g., an ISI 
detector, has an 
error floor performance region influenced by the decoder's sub-optimal 
message passing nature. 
Error floor reduction is achieved by a simple message re-initialization mechanism. Decoder edge states, e.g., constraint to variable node messages in decoder memory, are reinitialized, e.g., for an iteration, during the decoding after soft values provided by 
signal processing unit have improved. During the message re-initialization and for some subsequent amount of iterative decoder 
processing, extrinsic information fed back from the decoder to the 
signal processing unit and / or soft values delivered to the decoder from the 
signal processing unit, in an outer communications loop, is temporarily frozen, e.g., using a switch and a buffer. Then, the outer communications loop is restored as the decoding continues, achieving improved decoding performance.