Aspects of the embodiments are directed to systems, methods, and devices that can activate forward error correction (FEC) based on the channel loss of a channel. The channel's loss can be characterized as a high loss channel if the channel loss exceeds a predetermined threshold value. For channels with high loss and for those that operate at high data rates (e.g., data rates commensurate with PCIe Gen 4 or Gen 5), FEC can be activated so that the channels can achieve higher data rates.