This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatuses for efficient signaling of feedback regarding communications of a relaying operation. In some aspects, a relay node may defer feedback regarding reception of a first communication until relaying feedback regarding the payload of the first communication, thereby reducing overhead and signaling burden. In some aspects, a relay node may skip the transmission of feedback regarding the first communication altogether, either on the assumption that the link between the relay node and the first wireless node is reliable, or on the basis of the first wireless node being able to infer the reception of the first communication based on subsequent communications. In some aspects, a relay node may be enabled to skip forwarding of feedback from a second wireless node, such that the first wireless node can infer that the payload was received if no negative feedback associated with the payload is received.