diff --git a/openair3/NAS/NR_UE/nr_nas_msg_sim.c b/openair3/NAS/NR_UE/nr_nas_msg_sim.c
index 48b814eb27..d9f5fb7d18 100644
--- a/openair3/NAS/NR_UE/nr_nas_msg_sim.c
+++ b/openair3/NAS/NR_UE/nr_nas_msg_sim.c
@@ -968,14 +968,6 @@ static void parse_allowed_nssai(nr_nas_msg_snssai_t nssaiList[8], const uint8_t
   }
 }
 
-static inline uint16_t ntohs_unaligned(const uint8_t *v)
-{
-  // sanitize may complain on unaligned access, even if it works on Intel/AMD
-  uint16_t tmp;
-  memcpy(&tmp, v, sizeof(tmp));
-  return ntohs(tmp);
-}
-
 /* Extract Allowed NSSAI from Regestration Accept according to
    3GPP TS 24.501 Table 8.2.7.1.1
 */
@@ -995,7 +987,7 @@ static void get_allowed_nssai(nr_nas_msg_snssai_t nssai[8], const uint8_t *pdu_b
     const int type = *pdu_buffer++;
     switch (type) {
       case 0x77: // 5GS mobile identity
-        pdu_buffer += ntohs_unaligned(pdu_buffer) + sizeof(uint16_t);
+        pdu_buffer += ntoh_int16_buf(pdu_buffer) + sizeof(uint16_t);
         break;
 
       case 0x4A: // PLMN list
diff --git a/openair3/UTILS/conversions.h b/openair3/UTILS/conversions.h
index e188909713..dc275071c5 100644
--- a/openair3/UTILS/conversions.h
+++ b/openair3/UTILS/conversions.h
@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@
 #define ntoh_int24_buf(bUF) \
   ((*bUF << 16) | ((*(bUF + 1)) << 8) | (*(bUF + 2)))
 
+#define ntoh_int16_buf(bUF) \
+  ((*(bUF) << 8) | (*(bUF + 1)))
+
 #define IN_ADDR_TO_BUFFER(X,bUFF) INT32_TO_BUFFER((X).s_addr,(char*)bUFF)
 
 #define IN6_ADDR_TO_BUFFER(X,bUFF)                     \