Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a wireless communication device may start, in a no-listen-before-talk (no-LBT) mode and after a first channel occupancy time (COT), an away period during which no transmissions are to occur in abeam direction used in the first COT. The wireless communication device may perform, during the away period, channel sensing. The wireless communication device may transmit a communication in a second COT after the away period, based at least in part on a result of the channel sensing. Numerous other aspects are described.