A numerically controlled oscillator system for maintaining a consistent phase reference while switching data rates may include a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) circuit. The NCO circuit may include a phase accumulator, a phase-to-signal mapping circuit, and a first free-running counter. The phase accumulator may receive a new phase value as an input in response to an update signal. The phase-to-signal mapping circuit may map a value from the phase accumulator to a periodic signal. The first free-running counter may continue counting, without being reset, while the numerically controlled oscillator system is switching digital data rates. The first free-running counter may be configured to provide the new phase value to the phase accumulator using a representation of a counter value of the first free-running counter and a frequency tuning word defined by a representation of a frequency of the periodic signal.