Methods, systems, and devices for method for setting a reference voltage for read operations are described. A memory device may perform a first read operation on a set of memory cells using a first reference voltage and detect a first codeword based on performing the first read operation using the first reference voltage. The memory device may compare a first quantity of bits of the first codeword having a first logic value (e.g., a logic value ‘1’) with an expected quantity of bits having the first logic value (e.g., the expected quantity of logic value ‘1’s stored by the set of memory cells). The memory device may determine whether to perform a second read operation on the set of memory cells using a second reference voltage different than the first reference voltage (e.g., greater or less than the first reference voltage) based on the comparing.