The present disclosure relates to mitigating collision between reference signals and direct current subcarriers both occupying at least a same resource element of a resource block. Specifically, a UE may at least adjust a DMRS pattern within the resource block based on determining an upcoming occurrence of the collision between the DMRS and the DC subcarrier. Further, a network entity may determine that the UE should transmit the DMRS according to an adjusted DMRS pattern and transmit the adjusted DMRS pattern to the UE on a downlink communication channel.