Example aspects include a method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for wireless communication at user equipment (UE) of a mobile network, comprising monitoring an uplink metric of an uplink transmission channel. The aspects further include calculating an uplink transmit power based at least on a tolerance threshold. Additionally, the aspects include transmitting, via the uplink transmission channel according to the uplink transmit power, an uplink transmission. Additionally, the aspects include detecting a change in the uplink metric. Additionally, the aspects include comparing the change in the uplink metric with performance improvement criteria. Additionally, the aspects include determining whether to adjust the uplink transmit power. Additionally, the aspects include iterating adjustments to the uplink transmit power. Additionally, the aspects include stopping the adjustments to the uplink transmit power in response to determining that the uplink metric meets a performance threshold or in response to determining that the tolerance threshold has been met.