Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described to support entering a fast-negative acknowledgement (NACK) mode. A user equipment (UE) may enter a fast-NACK mode and may decrease a value of a respective timer for one or more wireless connections (e.g., may override the timer independently for each connection). The timer may be referred to as a retransmission request time duration. If configured with two or more component carriers (CCs), the UE may determine a value of the timer based on a location of a data hole within the two or more CCs. Based on entering the fast-NACK mode, the UE may override a configured timer for the respective wireless connection with a new, shorter timer. Based on expiration of the new timer, the UE may transmit an RLC NACK to a base station via the corresponding wireless connection.