Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described for handling uplink grants that have associated uplink transmission that may exceed exposure limits. Exposure limits may be based on maximum permissible exposure (MPE) limits of millimeter wave transmissions and may be determined at a user equipment (UE) and provided to a base station. If the UE receives an uplink grant for a transmission in which an associated uplink transmission would exceed the exposure limits, the UE may drop the uplink transmission prior to forming a transport block, transmit control signaling to the base station to indicate the exposure limits at the UE, or combinations thereof.