Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A base station may implement cross-carrier scheduling. A user equipment (UE) may identify a minimum scheduling delay and may receive a downlink grant on a first CC. The UE may further identify the slot in which a downlink data transmission corresponding to the downlink grant will be received, and may identify the slot such that the minimum scheduling delay is satisfied. The UE may the receive the downlink data transmission, as indicated in the downlink grant, in the identified slot. In some examples, the UE and the base station may alternate between a long minimum scheduling delay and a short minimum scheduling delay. In some examples, the UE and the base station may alternate between a cross-carrier mode, and a self-scheduling mode.