Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. Aspects include configuring a user equipment (UE) to receive control signals from a first transmission reception point (TRP) and a second TRP. A first TRP may transmit a control signal to the UE indicating resources for receiving a medium access control element (MAC-CE), where the control signal includes an indication that associates the MAC-CE with the first TRP. The first TRP may transmit the MAC-CE to the UE which may include a beam update indication for the first TRP. The UE may transmit an acknowledgement to the first TRP based on receiving the MAC-CE. The UE may also transmit an acknowledgment to the second TRP indicating that it has received a beam update indication from the first TRP. In some cases, the first TRP may send a MAC-CE signal to the UE including beam update information for the second TRP.