Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A wireless device may identify an uplink/downlink (UL/DL) configuration that defines subframe configuration options for each subframe of a frame. For example, the UL/DL configuration may establish parameters for time division duplexing (TDD) operation between a base station and a user equipment (UE). The wireless device (e.g., the UE or base station) may determine a constraint for a subframe of the frame based on the UL/DL configuration and then determine an adaptive subframe configuration based on the constraint. The adaptive subframe configuration may include one or several downlink symbol periods and one or several uplink symbol periods. The wireless device may then communicate during the subframe according to the adaptive subframe configuration rather than the original UL/DL configuration; and, because the adaptive subframe may be constrained by the identified UL/DL configuration, the communication during the subframe may avoid disruption to UEs.