Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a method for wireless communication by a user equipment (UE). The UE receives, from a network entity, after transmitting at least a first repetition of a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) transmission according to a first repetition factor, a dynamic indication of a second repetition factor to apply for transmitting the same PUCCH transmission. The UE determines an application time of the second repetition factor based on at least a timing of a last complete or partial transmission instance of the PUCCH transmission. The UE transmits, to the network entity, one or more additional repetitions of the PUCCH transmission based, at least in part, on the determined application time of the second repetition factor.