Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described for a handover procedure that allows a user equipment (UE) to keep both the source and the target base station until after handover is complete while using a single packet data convergence protocol (PDCP). In the procedure, a source base station may decide to configure bearers as split bearers during handover. Then, the source base station may transmit a handover request to the target base station, and the radio bearer configuration is added to the handover preparation and response messages. The target base station may transmit the decision on the proposed configuration in a handover response message to the source base station. The source base station may transmit a handover command to the UE with the radio bearer configuration, and the UE may configure its bearers and will maintain the split bearer configuration until the UE receives a new bearer configuration.