diff --git a/executables/nr-ue.c b/executables/nr-ue.c
index e7fcdcfa0f..071d36087c 100644
--- a/executables/nr-ue.c
+++ b/executables/nr-ue.c
@@ -944,14 +944,15 @@ void *UE_thread(void *arg)
 
 void init_NR_UE(int nb_inst, char *uecap_file, char *reconfig_file, char *rbconfig_file)
 {
-  int inst;
   NR_UE_MAC_INST_t *mac_inst;
   NR_UE_RRC_INST_t* rrc_inst;
   
-  for (inst=0; inst < nb_inst; inst++) {
-    AssertFatal((rrc_inst = nr_l3_init_ue(uecap_file, reconfig_file, rbconfig_file)) != NULL, "can not initialize RRC module\n");
+  for (int inst = 0; inst < nb_inst; inst++) {
+    AssertFatal((rrc_inst = nr_l3_init_ue(uecap_file)) != NULL, "can not initialize RRC module\n");
     AssertFatal((mac_inst = nr_l2_init_ue(rrc_inst)) != NULL, "can not initialize L2 module\n");
     AssertFatal((mac_inst->if_module = nr_ue_if_module_init(inst)) != NULL, "can not initialize IF module\n");
+    if (!get_softmodem_params()->sa)
+      init_nsa_message(rrc_inst, reconfig_file, rbconfig_file);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/ulsim.c b/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/ulsim.c
index e08a8cfb3a..54d69c9611 100644
--- a/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/ulsim.c
+++ b/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/ulsim.c
@@ -695,6 +695,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
   nr_l2_init_ue(&rrcue);
 
   NR_UE_MAC_INST_t* UE_mac = get_mac_inst(0);
+
+  ue_init_config_request(UE_mac, mu);
   
   UE->if_inst = nr_ue_if_module_init(0);
   UE->if_inst->scheduled_response = nr_ue_scheduled_response;
diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/config_ue.c b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/config_ue.c
index e6c494aa27..8b9d3f38ca 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/config_ue.c
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/config_ue.c
@@ -812,6 +812,8 @@ void nr_rrc_mac_config_req_scg(module_id_t module_id,
   if (scell_group_config->spCellConfig->reconfigurationWithSync)
     handle_reconfiguration_with_sync(mac, module_id, cc_idP, scell_group_config->spCellConfig->reconfigurationWithSync);
   configure_current_BWP(mac, NULL, scell_group_config);
+  if (!mac->dl_config_request || !mac->ul_config_request)
+    ue_init_config_request(mac, mac->current_DL_BWP.scs);
   // Setup the SSB to Rach Occasions mapping according to the config
   build_ssb_to_ro_map(mac);
 }
diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/main_ue_nr.c b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/main_ue_nr.c
index 77c6fd6c8d..8cd5a05ee1 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/main_ue_nr.c
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/main_ue_nr.c
@@ -63,11 +63,9 @@ void send_msg3_rrc_request(module_id_t mod_id, int rnti)
   nr_mac_rrc_msg3_ind(mod_id, rnti);
 }
 
-NR_UE_MAC_INST_t * nr_l2_init_ue(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t* rrc_inst) {
-
-    //LOG_I(MAC, "[MAIN] MAC_INIT_GLOBAL_PARAM IN...\n");
-
-    //LOG_I(MAC, "[MAIN] init UE MAC functions \n");
+NR_UE_MAC_INST_t * nr_l2_init_ue(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t* rrc_inst)
+{
+    LOG_I(NR_MAC, "MAIN: init UE MAC functions \n");
     
     //init mac here
     nr_ue_mac_inst = (NR_UE_MAC_INST_t *)calloc(NB_NR_UE_MAC_INST, sizeof(NR_UE_MAC_INST_t));
@@ -75,17 +73,11 @@ NR_UE_MAC_INST_t * nr_l2_init_ue(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t* rrc_inst) {
     for (int j = 0; j < NB_NR_UE_MAC_INST; j++)
       nr_ue_init_mac(j);
 
-    int scs = get_softmodem_params()->sa ?
-              get_softmodem_params()->numerology :
-              rrc_inst ?
-              *rrc_inst->scell_group_config->spCellConfig->reconfigurationWithSync->spCellConfigCommon->ssbSubcarrierSpacing :
-              - 1;
-    if (scs > -1)
-      ue_init_config_request(nr_ue_mac_inst, scs);
+    if (get_softmodem_params()->sa)
+      ue_init_config_request(nr_ue_mac_inst, get_softmodem_params()->numerology);
 
     if (rrc_inst && rrc_inst->scell_group_config) {
 
-      nr_rrc_mac_config_req_scg(0, 0, rrc_inst->scell_group_config);
       int rc = rlc_module_init(0);
       AssertFatal(rc == 0, "%s: Could not initialize RLC layer\n", __FUNCTION__);
       nr_rlc_activate_srb0(nr_ue_mac_inst->crnti, NULL, send_srb0_rrc);
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/main_ue.c b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/main_ue.c
index 72853cd278..b558744e9e 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/main_ue.c
+++ b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/main_ue.c
@@ -33,10 +33,41 @@
 #include "defs.h"
 #include "rrc_proto.h"
 #include "common/utils/LOG/log.h"
+#include "executables/softmodem-common.h"
 
-NR_UE_RRC_INST_t* nr_l3_init_ue(char* uecap, char* reconfig_file, char* rbconfig_file)
+NR_UE_RRC_INST_t* nr_l3_init_ue(char* uecap)
 {
-  // LOG_I(RRC, "[MAIN] NR UE MAC initialization...\n");
+  return openair_rrc_top_init_ue_nr(uecap);
+}
 
-  return openair_rrc_top_init_ue_nr(uecap, reconfig_file, rbconfig_file);
+void init_nsa_message(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc, char* reconfig_file, char* rbconfig_file)
+{
+  if (get_softmodem_params()->phy_test == 1 || get_softmodem_params()->do_ra == 1) {
+    // read in files for RRCReconfiguration and RBconfig
+
+    LOG_I(NR_RRC, "using %s for rrc init[1/2]\n", reconfig_file);
+    FILE *fd = fopen(reconfig_file, "r");
+    AssertFatal(fd,
+                "cannot read file %s: errno %d, %s\n",
+                reconfig_file,
+                errno,
+                strerror(errno));
+    char buffer[1024];
+    int msg_len = fread(buffer, 1, 1024, fd);
+    fclose(fd);
+    process_nsa_message(rrc, nr_SecondaryCellGroupConfig_r15, buffer, msg_len);
+
+    LOG_I(NR_RRC, "using %s for rrc init[2/2]\n", rbconfig_file);
+    fd = fopen(rbconfig_file, "r");
+    AssertFatal(fd,
+                "cannot read file %s: errno %d, %s\n",
+                rbconfig_file,
+                errno,
+                strerror(errno));
+    msg_len = fread(buffer, 1, 1024, fd);
+    fclose(fd);
+    process_nsa_message(rrc, nr_RadioBearerConfigX_r15, buffer,msg_len);
+  }
+  else
+    LOG_D(NR_RRC, "In NSA mode \n");
 }
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_UE.c b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_UE.c
index e6712676e0..75f58af872 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_UE.c
+++ b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_UE.c
@@ -257,8 +257,10 @@ static void nr_rrc_ue_process_rrcReconfiguration(const instance_t instance,
           if (get_softmodem_params()->nsa) {
             nr_rrc_mac_config_req_scg(0, 0, secondCellGroupConfig);
           }
-        } else
+        } else {
+          nr_rrc_mac_config_req_scg(0, 0, secondCellGroupConfig);
           nr_rrc_ue_decode_secondary_cellgroup_config(rrc, secondCellGroupConfig);
+        }
       }
       if (ie->measConfig != NULL) {
         LOG_I(NR_RRC, "Measurement Configuration is present\n");
@@ -283,7 +285,7 @@ static void nr_rrc_ue_process_rrcReconfiguration(const instance_t instance,
   return;
 }
 
-static void process_nsa_message(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc, nsa_message_t nsa_message_type, void *message, int msg_len)
+void process_nsa_message(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc, nsa_message_t nsa_message_type, void *message, int msg_len)
 {
   switch (nsa_message_type) {
     case nr_SecondaryCellGroupConfig_r15:
@@ -341,7 +343,7 @@ static void process_nsa_message(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc, nsa_message_t nsa_message
   }
 }
 
-NR_UE_RRC_INST_t* openair_rrc_top_init_ue_nr(char* uecap_file, char* reconfig_file, char* rbconfig_file)
+NR_UE_RRC_INST_t* openair_rrc_top_init_ue_nr(char* uecap_file)
 {
   if(NB_NR_UE_INST > 0) {
     NR_UE_rrc_inst = (NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *)calloc(NB_NR_UE_INST , sizeof(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t));
@@ -368,35 +370,6 @@ NR_UE_RRC_INST_t* openair_rrc_top_init_ue_nr(char* uecap_file, char* reconfig_fi
 
     NR_UE_rrc_inst->uecap_file = uecap_file;
 
-    if (get_softmodem_params()->phy_test == 1 || get_softmodem_params()->do_ra == 1) {
-      // read in files for RRCReconfiguration and RBconfig
-
-      LOG_I(NR_RRC, "using %s for rrc init[1/2]\n", reconfig_file);
-      FILE *fd = fopen(reconfig_file,"r");
-      AssertFatal(fd,
-                  "cannot read file %s: errno %d, %s\n",
-                  reconfig_file,
-                  errno,
-                  strerror(errno));
-      char buffer[1024];
-      int msg_len=fread(buffer,1,1024,fd);
-      fclose(fd);
-      process_nsa_message(NR_UE_rrc_inst, nr_SecondaryCellGroupConfig_r15, buffer,msg_len);
-
-      LOG_I(NR_RRC, "using %s for rrc init[2/2]\n", rbconfig_file);
-      fd = fopen(rbconfig_file,"r");
-      AssertFatal(fd,
-                  "cannot read file %s: errno %d, %s\n",
-                  rbconfig_file,
-                  errno,
-                  strerror(errno));
-      msg_len=fread(buffer,1,1024,fd);
-      fclose(fd);
-      process_nsa_message(NR_UE_rrc_inst, nr_RadioBearerConfigX_r15, buffer,msg_len);
-    } else if (get_softmodem_params()->nsa) {
-      LOG_D(NR_RRC, "In NSA mode \n");
-    }
-
     if (get_softmodem_params()->sl_mode) {
       configure_NR_SL_Preconfig(get_softmodem_params()->sync_ref);
     }
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_proto.h b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_proto.h
index 95330eabd2..565b9e813e 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_proto.h
+++ b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_proto.h
@@ -56,14 +56,17 @@ extern queue_t nr_ul_tti_req_queue;
 //  main_rrc.c
 //
 /**\brief Layer 3 initialization*/
-NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *nr_l3_init_ue(char *, char *, char *);
+NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *nr_l3_init_ue(char *);
 
 //
 //  UE_rrc.c
 //
 
 /**\brief Initial the top level RRC structure instance*/
-NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *openair_rrc_top_init_ue_nr(char *, char *, char *);
+NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *openair_rrc_top_init_ue_nr(char *);
+void init_nsa_message (NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc, char* reconfig_file, char* rbconfig_file);
+
+void process_nsa_message(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc, nsa_message_t nsa_message_type, void *message, int msg_len);
 
 /**\brief interface between MAC and RRC thru SRB0 (RLC TM/no PDCP)
    \param module_id  module id