Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. In some systems, a repeater may receive a first signal from a transmitting device and determine an amplified version of the signal may not be successfully received by a receiving device. The repeater may transmit a mode switch message to the transmitting device to indicate a request for the transmitting device to switch to a transmission mode associated with one or more different transmission parameters based on detecting that the amplified version of the signal may not be received by the receiving device. The transmitting device may adjust one or more transmission parameters according to the mode switch message and may transmit a second signal to the repeater based on the adjusted transmission parameters. The repeater, operating according to the mode switch message, may receive the second signal and transmit an amplified version of the second signal to the receiving device.