Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A wireless device may receive bundling indicators for a plurality of downlink transmissions and corresponding downlink assignment indicators associated with the bundling indicators, determine a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) bundling configuration based on the bundling indicators and the corresponding downlink assignment indicators, and process demodulation reference signals according to the DMRS bundling configuration. A wireless device may also receive bundling indicators for a plurality of downlink transmissions, determine a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) bundling configuration based on the bundling indicators and a gap between successive transmissions of the plurality of downlink transmissions, and process demodulation reference signals according to the DMRS bundling configuration.