diff --git a/executables/nr-ue.c b/executables/nr-ue.c
index 8d0f6418e2..64653a280b 100644
--- a/executables/nr-ue.c
+++ b/executables/nr-ue.c
@@ -465,6 +465,10 @@ static void UE_synch(void *arg) {
         } else {
           UE->is_synchronized = 1;
         }
+        if (UE->synch_request.received_synch_request == 1) {
+          UE->is_synchronized = 0;
+          UE->synch_request.received_synch_request = 0;
+        }
       } else {
 
         if (UE->UE_scan_carrier == 1) {
diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/mac_proto.h b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/mac_proto.h
index 2259ae7cf1..adc9353ada 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/mac_proto.h
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/mac_proto.h
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ void nr_ue_init_mac(module_id_t module_idP);
    \param mac           mac instance */
 void nr_ue_mac_default_configs(NR_UE_MAC_INST_t *mac);
 
-int8_t nr_ue_decode_mib(module_id_t module_id, int cc_id);
+void nr_ue_decode_mib(module_id_t module_id, int cc_id);
 
 /**\brief decode SIB1 and other SIs pdus in NR_UE, from if_module dl_ind
    \param module_id      module id
diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/nr_ue_procedures.c b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/nr_ue_procedures.c
index a724c0f574..ea8af97009 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/nr_ue_procedures.c
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/nr_ue_procedures.c
@@ -232,14 +232,20 @@ int get_rnti_type(NR_UE_MAC_INST_t *mac, uint16_t rnti)
     return rnti_type;
 }
 
-
-int8_t nr_ue_decode_mib(module_id_t module_id,
-                        int cc_id)
+void nr_ue_decode_mib(module_id_t module_id, int cc_id)
 {
   LOG_D(MAC,"[L2][MAC] decode mib\n");
-
   NR_UE_MAC_INST_t *mac = get_mac_inst(module_id);
 
+  if (mac->mib->cellBarred == NR_MIB__cellBarred_barred) {
+    LOG_W(MAC, "Cell is barred. Going back to sync mode.\n");
+    mac->synch_request.Mod_id = module_id;
+    mac->synch_request.CC_id = cc_id;
+    mac->synch_request.synch_req.target_Nid_cell = -1;
+    mac->if_module->synch_request(&mac->synch_request);
+    return;
+  }
+
   uint16_t frame = (mac->mib->systemFrameNumber.buf[0] >> mac->mib->systemFrameNumber.bits_unused);
   uint16_t frame_number_4lsb = 0;
 
@@ -285,8 +291,6 @@ int8_t nr_ue_decode_mib(module_id_t module_id,
     mac->state = UE_CONNECTED;
   else if(mac->state == UE_NOT_SYNC)
     mac->state = UE_SYNC;
-
-  return 0;
 }
 
 int8_t nr_ue_decode_BCCH_DL_SCH(module_id_t module_id,
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_UE.c b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_UE.c
index 73c3fa1593..844e75e085 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_UE.c
+++ b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_UE.c
@@ -490,8 +490,6 @@ bool check_si_validity(NR_UE_RRC_SI_INFO *SI_info, int si_type)
 
 int check_si_status(NR_UE_RRC_SI_INFO *SI_info)
 {
-  if (!get_softmodem_params()->sa)
-    return 0;
   // schedule reception of SIB1 if RRC doesn't have it
   if (!SI_info->sib1)
     return 1;
@@ -534,9 +532,12 @@ int8_t nr_rrc_ue_decode_NR_BCCH_BCH_Message(const module_id_t module_id, const u
     NR_UE_rrc_inst[module_id].mib = bcch_message->message.choice.mib;
     bcch_message->message.choice.mib = NULL;
 
-    NR_UE_RRC_SI_INFO *SI_info = &NR_UE_rrc_inst[module_id].SInfo[gNB_index];
-    // to schedule MAC to get SI if required
-    int get_sib = check_si_status(SI_info);
+    int get_sib = 0;
+    if (get_softmodem_params()->sa && NR_UE_rrc_inst[module_id].mib->cellBarred == NR_MIB__cellBarred_notBarred) {
+      NR_UE_RRC_SI_INFO *SI_info = &NR_UE_rrc_inst[module_id].SInfo[gNB_index];
+      // to schedule MAC to get SI if required
+      get_sib = check_si_status(SI_info);
+    }
     nr_rrc_mac_config_req_mib(module_id, 0, NR_UE_rrc_inst[module_id].mib, get_sib);
     ret = 0;
   }