Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. Linking multiple search space sets for physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) repetition may be enabled in a system. A user equipment (UE) may receive an indication of a configured search space set association from a base station. The association may indicate, to the UE, a configuration between a first PDCCH candidate and a second PDCCH candidate. The first PDCCH candidate may correspond to a first search space set, while the second PDCCH candidate may correspond to a second search space set. The UE may monitor the first and second search space set based on the configuration. The UE may combine the first PDCCH candidate with the second PDCCH candidate monitored in the first and second search space set based on capabilities of the UE and the configuration. The UE may decode the combined PDCCH candidates along with individual PDCCH candidates.