diff --git a/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/dlsim.c b/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/dlsim.c
index b90ccc835c..47659eb039 100644
--- a/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/dlsim.c
+++ b/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/dlsim.c
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
   RC.nb_nr_mac_CC = (int*)malloc(RC.nb_nr_macrlc_inst*sizeof(int));
   for (i = 0; i < RC.nb_nr_macrlc_inst; i++)
     RC.nb_nr_mac_CC[i] = 1;
-  mac_top_init_gNB(ngran_gNB, scc);
+  mac_top_init_gNB(ngran_gNB, scc, NULL);
   gNB_mac = RC.nrmac[0];
 
   gNB_mac->dl_bler.harq_round_max = num_rounds;
diff --git a/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/ulsim.c b/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/ulsim.c
index 8f2eb42d63..626bc65270 100644
--- a/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/ulsim.c
+++ b/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/ulsim.c
@@ -623,7 +623,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
   RC.nb_nr_mac_CC = (int*)malloc(RC.nb_nr_macrlc_inst*sizeof(int));
   for (i = 0; i < RC.nb_nr_macrlc_inst; i++)
     RC.nb_nr_mac_CC[i] = 1;
-  mac_top_init_gNB(ngran_gNB, scc);
+  mac_top_init_gNB(ngran_gNB, scc, NULL /* scd will be updated further below */);
 
   NR_ServingCellConfig_t *scd = calloc(1,sizeof(NR_ServingCellConfig_t));
   prepare_scd(scd);
diff --git a/openair2/COMMON/rrc_messages_types.h b/openair2/COMMON/rrc_messages_types.h
index 1781eb5d18..2e592b88cc 100644
--- a/openair2/COMMON/rrc_messages_types.h
+++ b/openair2/COMMON/rrc_messages_types.h
@@ -415,7 +415,6 @@ typedef struct NRRrcConfigurationReq_s {
   uint16_t                mnc[PLMN_LIST_MAX_SIZE];
   uint8_t                 mnc_digit_length[PLMN_LIST_MAX_SIZE];
   uint8_t                 num_plmn;
-  NR_ServingCellConfig_t  *scd;
   int                     sib1_tda;
   rrc_pdsch_AntennaPorts_t pdsch_AntennaPorts;
   int                     pusch_AntennaPorts;
diff --git a/openair2/GNB_APP/gnb_config.c b/openair2/GNB_APP/gnb_config.c
index e237114459..6fb9f5578e 100644
--- a/openair2/GNB_APP/gnb_config.c
+++ b/openair2/GNB_APP/gnb_config.c
@@ -987,11 +987,12 @@ void RCconfig_nr_macrlc() {
 
   NR_ServingCellConfigCommon_t *scc = get_scc_config(minRXTXTIME);
   //xer_fprint(stdout, &asn_DEF_NR_ServingCellConfigCommon, scc);
+  NR_ServingCellConfig_t *scd = get_scd_config();
 
   if (MacRLC_ParamList.numelt > 0) {
     RC.nb_nr_macrlc_inst = MacRLC_ParamList.numelt;
     ngran_node_t node_type = get_node_type();
-    mac_top_init_gNB(node_type, scc);
+    mac_top_init_gNB(node_type, scc, scd);
     RC.nb_nr_mac_CC = (int *)malloc(RC.nb_nr_macrlc_inst * sizeof(int));
 
     for (j = 0; j < RC.nb_nr_macrlc_inst; j++) {
@@ -1261,8 +1262,6 @@ void RCconfig_NRRRC(gNB_RRC_INST *rrc)
   paramdef_t GNBParams[]  = GNBPARAMS_DESC;
   paramlist_def_t GNBParamList = {GNB_CONFIG_STRING_GNB_LIST,NULL,0};
 
-  NR_ServingCellConfig_t *scd = get_scd_config();
-
   ////////// Physical parameters
 
   /* get global parameters, defined outside any section in the config file */
@@ -1400,7 +1399,6 @@ void RCconfig_NRRRC(gNB_RRC_INST *rrc)
         nrrrc_config.do_SRS = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_DO_SRS_IDX].iptr;
         nrrrc_config.force_256qam_off = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_FORCE256QAMOFF_IDX].iptr;
         LOG_I(GNB_APP, "256 QAM: %s\n", nrrrc_config.force_256qam_off ? "force off" : "may be on");
-        nrrrc_config.scd = scd;
         nrrrc_config.enable_sdap = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_ENABLE_SDAP_IDX].iptr;
         LOG_I(GNB_APP, "SDAP layer is %s\n", nrrrc_config.enable_sdap ? "enabled" : "disabled");
         nrrrc_config.drbs = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_DRBS].iptr;
diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/gNB_scheduler_primitives.c b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/gNB_scheduler_primitives.c
index 0bbe82ef3a..5c3db39699 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/gNB_scheduler_primitives.c
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/gNB_scheduler_primitives.c
@@ -2890,7 +2890,7 @@ void prepare_initial_ul_rrc_message(gNB_MAC_INST *mac, NR_UE_info_t *UE)
   int CC_id = 0;
   gNB_RRC_INST *rrc = RC.nrrrc[mod_id];
   const NR_ServingCellConfigCommon_t *scc = mac->common_channels[CC_id].ServingCellConfigCommon;
-  const NR_ServingCellConfig_t *sccd = rrc->configuration.scd;
+  const NR_ServingCellConfig_t *sccd = mac->common_channels[CC_id].pre_ServingCellConfig;
   NR_CellGroupConfig_t *cellGroupConfig = get_initial_cellGroupConfig(UE->uid, scc, sccd, &rrc->configuration);
 
   UE->CellGroup = cellGroupConfig;
diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/mac_proto.h b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/mac_proto.h
index c12fa69eb0..cb907e7af5 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/mac_proto.h
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/mac_proto.h
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 
 void set_cset_offset(uint16_t);
 
-void mac_top_init_gNB(ngran_node_t node_type, NR_ServingCellConfigCommon_t *scc);
+void mac_top_init_gNB(ngran_node_t node_type, NR_ServingCellConfigCommon_t *scc, NR_ServingCellConfig_t *scd);
 
 int nr_mac_enable_ue_rrc_processing_timer(module_id_t Mod_idP,
                                           rnti_t rnti,
diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/main.c b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/main.c
index a7f8de1d8f..1d07f39630 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/main.c
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/main.c
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ static void mac_rrc_init(gNB_MAC_INST *mac, ngran_node_t node_type)
   }
 }
 
-void mac_top_init_gNB(ngran_node_t node_type, NR_ServingCellConfigCommon_t *scc)
+void mac_top_init_gNB(ngran_node_t node_type, NR_ServingCellConfigCommon_t *scc, NR_ServingCellConfig_t *scd)
 {
   module_id_t     i;
   gNB_MAC_INST    *nrmac;
@@ -242,6 +242,7 @@ void mac_top_init_gNB(ngran_node_t node_type, NR_ServingCellConfigCommon_t *scc)
       RC.nrmac[i]->ul_handle = 0;
 
       RC.nrmac[i]->common_channels[0].ServingCellConfigCommon = scc;
+      RC.nrmac[i]->common_channels[0].pre_ServingCellConfig = scd;
 
       RC.nrmac[i]->first_MIB = true;
 
diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/nr_mac_gNB.h b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/nr_mac_gNB.h
index 0f272bbd2d..ef35bc0a8e 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/nr_mac_gNB.h
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/nr_mac_gNB.h
@@ -220,6 +220,8 @@ typedef struct {
   NR_BCCH_BCH_Message_t *mib;
   NR_BCCH_DL_SCH_Message_t *sib1;
   NR_ServingCellConfigCommon_t *ServingCellConfigCommon;
+  /// pre-configured ServingCellConfig that is default for every UE
+  NR_ServingCellConfig_t *pre_ServingCellConfig;
   NR_ARFCN_ValueEUTRA_t ul_CarrierFreq;
   long ul_Bandwidth;
   /// Outgoing MIB PDU for PHY
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/NR/rrc_gNB.c b/openair2/RRC/NR/rrc_gNB.c
index 2f8fa42eae..455ded6c02 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/NR/rrc_gNB.c
+++ b/openair2/RRC/NR/rrc_gNB.c
@@ -274,10 +274,11 @@ static void init_NR_SI(gNB_RRC_INST *rrc, gNB_RrcConfigurationReq *configuration
   }
 
   if (get_softmodem_params()->phy_test > 0 || get_softmodem_params()->do_ra > 0) {
+    AssertFatal(NODE_IS_MONOLITHIC(rrc->node_type), "phy_test and do_ra only work in monolithic\n");
     rrc_gNB_ue_context_t *ue_context_p = rrc_gNB_allocate_new_ue_context(rrc);
     gNB_RRC_UE_t *UE = &ue_context_p->ue_context;
     UE->spCellConfig = calloc(1, sizeof(struct NR_SpCellConfig));
-    UE->spCellConfig->spCellConfigDedicated = configuration->scd;
+    UE->spCellConfig->spCellConfigDedicated = RC.nrmac[0]->common_channels[0].pre_ServingCellConfig;
     LOG_I(NR_RRC,"Adding new user (%p)\n",ue_context_p);
     if (!NODE_IS_CU(RC.nrrrc[0]->node_type)) {
       rrc_add_nsa_user(rrc,ue_context_p,NULL);
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/NR/rrc_gNB_nsa.c b/openair2/RRC/NR/rrc_gNB_nsa.c
index 8289ec73de..e03dcc4705 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/NR/rrc_gNB_nsa.c
+++ b/openair2/RRC/NR/rrc_gNB_nsa.c
@@ -105,8 +105,9 @@ void rrc_parse_ue_capabilities(gNB_RRC_INST *rrc, NR_UE_CapabilityRAT_ContainerL
   }
   LOG_A(NR_RRC, "Successfully decoded UE NR capabilities (NR and MRDC)\n");
 
+  AssertFatal(NODE_IS_MONOLITHIC(rrc->node_type), "phy_test and do_ra only work in monolithic\n");
   UE->spCellConfig = calloc(1, sizeof(struct NR_SpCellConfig));
-  UE->spCellConfig->spCellConfigDedicated = rrc->configuration.scd;
+  UE->spCellConfig->spCellConfigDedicated = RC.nrmac[0]->common_channels[0].pre_ServingCellConfig;
   LOG_I(NR_RRC,"Adding new NSA user (%p)\n",ue_context_p);
   rrc_add_nsa_user(rrc,ue_context_p, m);
 }