A method of wireless communication includes determining, by a user equipment (UE) in response to a failed transmission to the UE by a base station, to transmit a negative acknowledgment (NACK). The method additionally includes transmitting, by the UE to the base station, the NACK in an acknowledgement (ACK) resource previously allocated by the base station, and triggering at least one action, by the UE in response to at least one of the determination to transmit the NACK or the transmission of the NACK. The at least one action improves retransmission success rate. In another aspect, a method of wireless communication includes receiving, by a base station from a UE, a NACK in an ACK resource previously allocated by the base station, and triggering at least one action, by the base station in response to the receipt of the NACK. The at least one action improves retransmission success rate.