A method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided for wireless communication at a user equipment. The UE receives an indication from a base station that a medium access control-control element (MAC-CE) activation of a pathloss reference signal is enabled. The UE receives a MAC-CE activating the pathloss reference signal. The UE determines the pathloss reference signal based on the MAC-CE and the indication that indicates that the MAC-CE activation of the pathloss reference signal is enabled. Then, the UE estimates a downlink pathloss based on the pathloss reference signal that is activated by the MAC-CE.