Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A UE may transmit a random-access message to a base station and receive at least a control channel portion of a response to the random-access message from the base station, where the response may also include a data channel portion. Using the techniques described herein, the UE may then manage flow control feedback reporting to the base station based on whether the data channel portion includes a radio resource control (RRC) message. For instance, the UE may report an acknowledgment for the response if the data channel portion does not include an RRC message and a TA timer at the UE is running (e.g., regardless of whether the UE is able to or attempts to decode the data channel portion, since the data channel portion may only include TA information which may not be useful to the UE).