Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may transmit a downlink traffic query to a base station based at least in part on an expectation of downlink traffic from the base station over an unlicensed frequency spectrum band and an absence of downlink traffic from the base station over the unlicensed frequency spectrum band for a threshold duration of time. The UE may receive a downlink traffic indication response from the base station based at least in part on the downlink traffic query. The UE may monitor the unlicensed frequency spectrum band based at least in part on the downlink traffic indication response.