An integrated circuit for a receiving link device includes a processing device to detect, using an equalizer of the receiving link device, that a receiver (RX) pre-cursor value is outside of a threshold value based on a target RX tap value. The processing device further generates, based on the detecting, a plurality of tap messages having a plurality of up or down commands to one of decrease or increase a corresponding transmitter (TX) pre-cursor value of a transmitting link device. The processing device further causes the plurality of tap messages to be provided to a local transmitter to be transmitted to the transmitting link device. The plurality of tap messages is to cause the transmitting link device to adjust the corresponding TX pre-cursor value.