Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A transmitting device (e.g., a user equipment (UE) or base station) may reduce a peak to average power ratio (PAPR) by clipping signals transmitted to a receiving device according to a clipping level. The receiving device may receive, from the transmitting device, an indication of the clipping level associated with a reference signal. The receiving device may receive the reference signal and identify distortions based on the clipping level. The receiving device may iteratively reconstruct peaks of the clipped reference signal until the receiving device is able to obtain accurate pilot symbols for use in channel estimation. The techniques described herein may enable receiving devices to improve efficiency and reliability of communications by improving channel estimation, which may increase the probability of successfully decoding transmitted information.