An embodiment includes a system comprising: a first gate and a first contact that correspond to a transistor and are on a first fin; a second gate and a second contact that correspond to a transistor and are on a second fin; an interlayer dielectric (ILD) collinear with and between the first and second contacts; wherein (a) the first and second gates are collinear and the first and second contacts are collinear; (b) the ILD includes a recess that comprises a cap layer including at least one of an oxide and a nitride. Other embodiments are described herein.