Techniques of enhanced listen-before-talk (LBT) at an Evolved NodeB (eNB) are discussed. An example apparatus within an eNB implementing such techniques comprises a receiver circuit, processor, and transmitter circuit. The receiver circuit is configured to receive a set of signals over a selected frequency band. The processor is configured to determine a subset of the set via an energy detection metric; determine, for each signal of the subset, whether that signal comprises one of a plurality of Long Term Evolution (LTE) reference signals (RSs); and implement a back-off procedure in response to a determination that at least one signal of the subset does not comprise one of the plurality of LTE RSs. The transmitter is configured to transmit a transmission comprising a first RS of the plurality of LTE RSs in response to a determination that each signal of the subset comprises one of the plurality of LTE RSs.