Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may avoid frequent handover in small cells by triggering handover to a macro cell. The UE may determine that the UE performs a number of handovers within a time period. The UE may determine to trigger a handover to the macro cell. The UE may identify the macro cell based on measuring the macro cell during multiple handovers. The UE may determine to refrain from indicating signal measurements of small cells in a measurement report. Accordingly, a measurement report may include a signal measurement of the macro cell and omit the signal measurements of the small cells. The UE may transmit the measurement report to the small cell acting as a serving cell for the UE. Based the measurement report, the UE may receive a message initiating a handover procedure with the macro cell.