A technique for rate matching a bit stream (c(0-2)(k)) output from a channel encoder (102) to a data transmission rate on a physical transmission channel is described. A method embodiment of the technique comprises the steps of determining, at a beginning of a transmission time interval for a transmission of one or more code blocks on the transmission channel, bit positions of interleaver padding bits (dummy and/or filler bits) in an output buffer for buffering the output bits before transmission on the physical transmission channel; storing the determined padding bit positions (114); and determining, based on the stored padding bit positions, positions (d(0-2)(k)) of the output bits from the channel encoding stage (102) in the output buffer, wherein the stored padding bit positions are re-used for each of the one or more code blocks.