This disclosure provides systems, methods, and devices for wireless communication that support enhanced management of recovery timers in a wireless communication system. In a first aspect, a method of wireless communication includes an apparatus determining whether a recovery timer is currently running, the apparatus being configured for multi-subscriber identity module (SIM) communications including a first subscription and a second subscription. The apparatus is further configured to tune away from the first subscription to the second subscription when the recovery timer is determined not to be currently running, and determine to forego tuning away from the first subscription to the second subscription when the recovery timer is determined to be currently running. Other aspects and features are also claimed and described.