Methods, systems, and devices for timing configuration in mobile communication technology are described. An example method of wireless communication includes receiving, by a wireless device from a network node, a message comprising a medium access control (MAC) layer timing control, and selectively starting, based on a rule and subsequent to the receiving, a time alignment timer, wherein the rule specifies the time alignment timer is not started when the MAC layer is performing a resource configuration transmission and the time alignment timer is started when the MAC layer is not performing the resource configuration transmission.