Techniques for improved wake-up signal (WUS) operation in a wireless communication system are described. In accordance with one embodiment, a wireless communications device may receive, from a gNB, information indicating parameters associated with a wake-up signal time window and may power down its first receiver and second receiver based on a discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle. The wireless communications device may wake up the second receiver to receive, from the gNB, a wake-up signal during a configured WUS time window and determine whether a wake-up or a non-wake-up condition is indicated. If a wake-up condition is indicated, then the wireless communications device may wake up the first receiver before an on duration of the DRX cycle to synchronize timing with the gNB, detect a new radio physical downlink control channel (NR-PDCCH) during the on duration of the DRX cycle, and reset a size of the wake-up signal time window.