Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may receive a configuration message indicating that a control resource set for a downlink control channel is associated with a plurality of demodulation reference signal (DMRS) ports. The UE may determine, based at least in part on the configuration message, that a first set of DMRS resource elements in a first symbol of the control resource set correspond to a first DMRS port of the plurality of DMRS ports and a second set of DMRS resource elements in a second symbol of the control resource set correspond to a second DMRS port of the plurality of DMRS ports. The UE may decode the downlink control channel based at least in part on the determining.