Technology for a memory device operable to program memory cells in the memory device is described. The memory device can include a plurality of memory cells and a memory controller. The memory controller can perform a first programming pass to program a memory cell in the plurality of memory cells. A defined number of blanket programming pulses can be applied to the memory cell during the first programming pass. The blanket programming pulses may not include verify operations. The memory controller can perform a second programming pass to program the memory cell. A defined number of program and verify (PV) pulses can be applied to the memory cell during the second programming pass.