diff --git a/executables/nr-gnb.c b/executables/nr-gnb.c
index 1a7a6aa373..88351c9d5e 100644
--- a/executables/nr-gnb.c
+++ b/executables/nr-gnb.c
@@ -870,12 +870,13 @@ void init_gNB_proc(int inst) {
   gNB->threadPool = (tpool_t*)malloc(sizeof(tpool_t));
   gNB->respDecode = (notifiedFIFO_t*) malloc(sizeof(notifiedFIFO_t));
   int numCPU = sysconf(_SC_NPROCESSORS_ONLN);
+  int threadCnt = min(numCPU, get_uldeocde_thread_count());
   char ul_pool[80];
-  sprintf(ul_pool,"%d",1);
+  sprintf(ul_pool,"-1");
   int s_offset = 0;
-  for (int icpu=2; icpu<numCPU; icpu++) {
-    sprintf(ul_pool+1+s_offset,",%d",icpu);
-    s_offset += 2;
+  for (int icpu=2; icpu<threadCnt; icpu++) {
+    sprintf(ul_pool+2+s_offset,",-1");
+    s_offset += 3;
   }
   initTpool(ul_pool, gNB->threadPool, false);
   initNotifiedFIFO(gNB->respDecode);
diff --git a/executables/thread-common.h b/executables/thread-common.h
index 6f3af3cfc0..c5e8587e77 100644
--- a/executables/thread-common.h
+++ b/executables/thread-common.h
@@ -39,4 +39,8 @@ static inline WORKER_CONF_t get_thread_worker_conf(void) {
   return thread_struct.worker_conf;
 }
 
+static inline uint8_t get_uldeocde_thread_count(void) {
+  return thread_struct.numULProcThreads;
+}
+
 #endif
diff --git a/openair1/PHY/defs_common.h b/openair1/PHY/defs_common.h
index 27765a8548..e7cc5923ba 100644
--- a/openair1/PHY/defs_common.h
+++ b/openair1/PHY/defs_common.h
@@ -891,6 +891,7 @@ typedef enum {
 typedef struct THREAD_STRUCT_s {
   PARALLEL_CONF_t  parallel_conf;
   WORKER_CONF_t    worker_conf;
+  uint8_t numULProcThreads;
 } THREAD_STRUCT;
 
 typedef enum {SF_DL, SF_UL, SF_S} lte_subframe_t;
diff --git a/targets/PROJECTS/GENERIC-LTE-EPC/CONF/gnb.band78.tm1.106PRB.usrpn300.conf b/targets/PROJECTS/GENERIC-LTE-EPC/CONF/gnb.band78.tm1.106PRB.usrpn300.conf
index 6f081fa24f..255cfb08dc 100644
--- a/targets/PROJECTS/GENERIC-LTE-EPC/CONF/gnb.band78.tm1.106PRB.usrpn300.conf
+++ b/targets/PROJECTS/GENERIC-LTE-EPC/CONF/gnb.band78.tm1.106PRB.usrpn300.conf
@@ -260,6 +260,7 @@ THREAD_STRUCT = (
     parallel_config    = "PARALLEL_RU_L1_TRX_SPLIT";
     #two option for worker "WORKER_DISABLE" or "WORKER_ENABLE"
     worker_config      = "WORKER_ENABLE";
+    numULProcThreads   = 8;
   }
 );