Methods, systems, and devices are described for wireless communication at a device. Demodulation reference signals (DMRS) may be used to facilitate demodulation of low latency control or data channels, or both. A wireless communication device may, for example, identify a carrier configuration with transmission time intervals (TTIs) of different durations. A carrier may be configured with TTIs that support low latency operations. A DMRS pattern for resources of a low latency TTI may be determined, and that first DMRS pattern may be based on a DMRS pattern for resources of another, longer-duration TTI. Devices may thus communicate using resources of a low latency TTI based on the first DMRS pattern. For example, a user equipment (UE) may demodulate resources of a low latency channel using the first DMRS pattern, and the first DMRS pattern may be consistent with DMRS patterns supporting non-low latency within a common wireless system.