Techniques are described for wireless communication. A method for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE) includes identifying a transmission timing of a control reference signal transmitted over a radio frequency spectrum band during an OFF duration of the UE with respect to the radio frequency spectrum band, in which the identified transmission timing is relative to a transition from the OFF duration to an ON duration of the UE with respect to the radio frequency spectrum band; receiving the control reference signal at the identified transmission timing; and performing a warm-up procedure, before the ON duration, based at least in part on the identified transmission timing of the control reference signal. A method for wireless communication at a wireless network includes indicating, to the UE, the transmission timing of the control reference signal; and transmitting the control reference signal at the indicated transmission timing. The OFF duration and the ON duration are coordinated with a wireless network.