Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. Generally, the described techniques provide for transmitting data signaling via a first set of subcarriers (e.g., data subcarriers) at a same transmit power as PTRS transmissions via a second set of subcarriers (e.g., PTRS subcarriers) via a first transmission layer. Additionally, the described techniques provide for transmitting data signaling via the first set of subcarriers and the second set of subcarriers via a second transmission layer. That is, a wireless device may transmit data signaling via the second transmission layer at subcarriers used for PTRS transmissions via the first transmission layer while maintaining an average energy across the first transmission layer and the second transmission layer. In some examples, a receiving device may estimate the phase noise error for each transmission layer using one or more PTRS transmissions or using signaling from each transmission layer.