Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques and apparatus for user equipment initiated handover. Certain aspects include a method for wireless communications by a user equipment (UE) including determining a first signal metric between the UE and a first base station, while the UE has a connection established with the first base station. The method further includes determining a second signal metric between the UE and a second base station, while the UE does not have a connection established with the second base station. The method further includes determining that the second signal metric is stronger than the first signal metric. The method further includes declaring a radio link failure with the first base station based on determining that the second signal metric is stronger than the first signal metric. The method further includes establishing a connection with the second base station.