Misalignment of a first optical system 250a of a first communication device 200a and a second optical system 250b of a second communication device 200b may be detected when the devices are not able to detect light from one another such that the communication devices 200a, 200b are unable to establish a communication link 22 to send and/or receive information. The first communication device 200a and the second communication device 200b may become misaligned for any number of reasons, such as, for example, initial acquisition, change in position, turbulence, location calibration error, etc. The misalignment may be detected at the first communication device 200a, the second communication device 200b or both.