Aspects of the present disclosure relate to wireless communications, and more particularly, to cell recovery techniques. One example method generally includes receiving, at a user-equipment (UE), at least one pilot signal via a secondary cell, receive, via a primary cell, a first message triggering reporting of at least one preferred beam for communication via the secondary cell, determining the preferred beam based on the at least one pilot signal, transmitting, via the primary cell, a report indicating the at least one preferred beam, and communicating data via the secondary cell and via the preferred beam.