A wireless communications system may support beamforming to transmit and receive signals. A device operating within the wireless communications system may transmit a request to measure a beamformed reference signal. The device may also transmit a beamforming configuration indicating one or more beamforming options for measuring the beamformed reference signal. The beamforming options may include measuring the beamformed reference signal using a directional configuration and an omni-directional configuration. The device receiving the beamforming configuration may form a receive beam in accordance with the beamforming configuration to measure the beamformed reference signal. A device operating within the wireless communications system may determine to use a particular beamforming option for measuring a beamformed reference signal without first receiving a beamforming configuration, and may make the determination based on signal quality at the device or capabilities of the device.