Abstract: A scheme is described for controlling adjacent channel crosstalk so that an optical receiver can accurately detect the presence of a signal in its respective optical channel after a loss of signal condition occurs. According to illustrative embodiments of the invention, crosstalk-induced cross-traffic is prevented so that traffic from an adjacent channel is not carried in a channel that is out of service due to a loss of signal condition. More specifically, adjacent channel crosstalk, which might otherwise exceed the receiver sensitivity threshold of the failed channel, is substantially reduced or eliminated so that a receiver will not improperly identify and lock onto an adjacent channel thereby causing the cross-traffic condition.