diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/config.c b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/config.c
index 1b97d2d55a..f0fbcf2116 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/config.c
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/config.c
@@ -367,10 +367,10 @@ int rrc_mac_config_req_gNB(module_id_t Mod_idP,
       NR_RA_t *ra = &RC.nrmac[Mod_idP]->common_channels[CC_id].ra[0];
       ra->state = RA_IDLE;
       ra->secondaryCellGroup = secondaryCellGroup;
-      ra->crnti = rnti;
       if (secondaryCellGroup->spCellConfig->reconfigurationWithSync->rach_ConfigDedicated!=NULL) {
         if (secondaryCellGroup->spCellConfig->reconfigurationWithSync->rach_ConfigDedicated->choice.uplink->cfra != NULL) {
           ra->cfra = true;
+          ra->rnti = rnti;
           struct NR_CFRA cfra = *secondaryCellGroup->spCellConfig->reconfigurationWithSync->rach_ConfigDedicated->choice.uplink->cfra;
           uint8_t num_preamble = cfra.resources.choice.ssb->ssb_ResourceList.list.count;
           ra->preambles.num_preambles = num_preamble;
diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/gNB_scheduler_RA.c b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/gNB_scheduler_RA.c
index 413727b9cb..3e901329e7 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/gNB_scheduler_RA.c
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/gNB_scheduler_RA.c
@@ -308,16 +308,17 @@ void nr_initiate_ra_proc(module_id_t module_idP,
 
     LOG_D(MAC, "%s() Msg2[%04d%d] SFN/SF:%04d%d\n", __FUNCTION__, ra->Msg2_frame, ra->Msg2_slot, frameP, slotP);
 
-    do {
-      ra->rnti = (taus() % 65518) + 1;
-      loop++;
+    if (!ra->cfra) {
+      do {
+        ra->rnti = (taus() % 65518) + 1;
+        loop++;
+      }
+      while (loop != 100 && !(find_nr_UE_id(module_idP, ra->rnti) == -1 && ra->rnti >= 1 && ra->rnti <= 65519));
+      if (loop == 100) {
+        LOG_E(MAC,"%s:%d:%s: [RAPROC] initialisation random access aborted\n", __FILE__, __LINE__, __FUNCTION__);
+        abort();
+      }
     }
-    while (loop != 100 && !(find_nr_UE_id(module_idP, ra->rnti) == -1 && ra->rnti >= 1 && ra->rnti <= 65519));
-    if (loop == 100) {
-      LOG_E(MAC,"%s:%d:%s: [RAPROC] initialisation random access aborted\n", __FILE__, __LINE__, __FUNCTION__);
-      abort();
-    }
-
     ra->RA_rnti = ra_rnti;
     ra->preamble_index = preamble_index;
 
diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/gNB_scheduler_ulsch.c b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/gNB_scheduler_ulsch.c
index a3dc3872c4..a126717292 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/gNB_scheduler_ulsch.c
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/gNB_scheduler_ulsch.c
@@ -322,9 +322,44 @@ void nr_rx_sdu(const module_id_t gnb_mod_idP,
   UE_info = &gNB_mac->UE_info;
   int target_snrx10 = gNB_mac->pusch_target_snrx10;
 
+  NR_RA_t *ra = &gNB_mac->common_channels[CC_idP].ra[0];
+
+  // random access pusch with TC-RNTI
+  if (ra->state == WAIT_Msg3) {
+    if (sduP != NULL) { // if the CRC passed
+
+      if (ra->rnti != current_rnti) {
+        LOG_E(MAC,
+              "expected TC-RNTI %04x to match current RNTI %04x\n",
+              ra->rnti,
+              current_rnti);
+        return;
+      }
+      free(ra->preambles.preamble_list);
+      ra->state = RA_IDLE;
+      LOG_I(MAC, "reset RA state information for RA-RNTI %04x\n", ra->rnti);
+      const int UE_id = add_new_nr_ue(gnb_mod_idP, ra->rnti);
+      UE_info->secondaryCellGroup[UE_id] = ra->secondaryCellGroup;
+      struct NR_ServingCellConfig__downlinkBWP_ToAddModList *bwpList = ra->secondaryCellGroup->spCellConfig->spCellConfigDedicated->downlinkBWP_ToAddModList;
+      AssertFatal(bwpList->list.count == 1,
+                  "downlinkBWP_ToAddModList has %d BWP!\n",
+                  bwpList->list.count);
+      const int bwp_id = 1;
+      UE_info->UE_sched_ctrl[UE_id].active_bwp = bwpList->list.array[bwp_id - 1];
+      LOG_I(MAC,
+            "[gNB %d][RAPROC] PUSCH with TC_RNTI %x received correctly, "
+            "adding UE MAC Context UE_id %d/RNTI %04x\n",
+            gnb_mod_idP,
+            current_rnti,
+            UE_id,
+            ra->rnti);
+    }
+    return;
+  }
+
+
   if (UE_id != -1) {
     UE_scheduling_control = &(UE_info->UE_sched_ctrl[UE_id]);
-
     UE_info->mac_stats[UE_id].ulsch_total_bytes_rx += sdu_lenP;
     LOG_D(MAC, "[gNB %d][PUSCH %d] CC_id %d %d.%d Received ULSCH sdu from PHY (rnti %x, UE_id %d) ul_cqi %d\n",
           gnb_mod_idP,
@@ -366,44 +401,5 @@ void nr_rx_sdu(const module_id_t gnb_mod_idP,
 
     }
   }
-  else if (sduP != NULL) { // if the CRC passed
-    // random access pusch with TC-RNTI
-    NR_RA_t *ra = &gNB_mac->common_channels[CC_idP].ra[0];
-    if (ra->state != WAIT_Msg3) {
-      LOG_E(MAC,
-            "expected RA state WAIT_Msg3/%d (but is %d) for RA-RNTI %04x\n",
-            WAIT_Msg3,
-            ra->state,
-            ra->rnti);
-      return;
-    }
-    if (ra->rnti != current_rnti) {
-      LOG_E(MAC,
-            "expected RA-RNTI %04x (C-RNTI %04x) to match current RNTI %04x\n",
-            ra->rnti,
-            ra->crnti,
-            current_rnti);
-      return;
-    }
-    free(ra->preambles.preamble_list);
-    ra->state = RA_IDLE;
-    LOG_I(MAC, "reset RA state information for RA-RNTI %04x\n", ra->rnti);
-    const int UE_id = add_new_nr_ue(gnb_mod_idP, ra->crnti);
-    UE_info->secondaryCellGroup[UE_id] = ra->secondaryCellGroup;
-    struct NR_ServingCellConfig__downlinkBWP_ToAddModList *bwpList =
-        ra->secondaryCellGroup->spCellConfig->spCellConfigDedicated->downlinkBWP_ToAddModList;
-    AssertFatal(bwpList->list.count == 1,
-                "downlinkBWP_ToAddModList has %d BWP!\n",
-                bwpList->list.count);
-    const int bwp_id = 1;
-    UE_info->UE_sched_ctrl[UE_id].active_bwp = bwpList->list.array[bwp_id - 1];
-    LOG_W(MAC,
-          "[gNB %d][RAPROC] PUSCH with TC_RNTI %x received correctly, "
-          "adding UE MAC Context UE_id %d/RNTI %04x\n",
-          gnb_mod_idP,
-          current_rnti,
-          UE_id,
-          ra->crnti);
-  }
 }