Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. Generally, the described techniques provide for indicating a sidelink configuration for synchronization signal transmission. For example, a user equipment (UE) may establish an access link with a base station or transmission/reception point. The UE may measure a plurality of beams of the access link or of a sidelink channel to generate a signal metric of the access link or of the sidelink channel. Based on the generated signal metric, the UE may identify a sidelink configuration for synchronization signal transmission within the sidelink channel. In some cases, the UE may transmit a synchronization signal via the sidelink channel based at least in part on the sidelink configuration.