diff --git a/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/dlsim.c b/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/dlsim.c
index b858945018..a327abb2d0 100644
--- a/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/dlsim.c
+++ b/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/dlsim.c
@@ -953,7 +953,7 @@ printf("%d\n", slot);
 
   //Configure UE
   NR_BCCH_BCH_Message_t *mib = get_new_MIB_NR(scc);
-  nr_rrc_mac_config_req_mib(0, 0, mib->message.choice.mib, false);
+  nr_rrc_mac_config_req_mib(0, 0, mib->message.choice.mib, false, false);
   nr_rrc_mac_config_req_cg(0, 0, UE_CellGroup, UE_Capability_nr);
 
   asn1cFreeStruc(asn_DEF_NR_CellGroupConfig, UE_CellGroup);
diff --git a/openair2/COMMON/rrc_messages_types.h b/openair2/COMMON/rrc_messages_types.h
index 094fd0fa40..1d35619ecc 100644
--- a/openair2/COMMON/rrc_messages_types.h
+++ b/openair2/COMMON/rrc_messages_types.h
@@ -486,6 +486,7 @@ typedef struct {
 typedef struct {
   NR_BCCH_BCH_Message_t *bcch;
   int get_sib;
+  bool access_barred;
 } nr_mac_rrc_config_mib_t;
 typedef struct {
   NR_SIB1_t *sib1;
diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/config_ue.c b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/config_ue.c
index 9bdbeebe10..8624766bd1 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/config_ue.c
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/config_ue.c
@@ -955,7 +955,7 @@ static void update_mib_conf(NR_MIB_t *target, NR_MIB_t *source)
   target->intraFreqReselection = source->intraFreqReselection;
 }
 
-void nr_rrc_mac_config_req_mib(module_id_t module_id, int cc_idP, NR_MIB_t *mib, int sched_sib)
+void nr_rrc_mac_config_req_mib(module_id_t module_id, int cc_idP, NR_MIB_t *mib, int sched_sib, bool barred)
 {
   NR_UE_MAC_INST_t *mac = get_mac_inst(module_id);
   int ret = pthread_mutex_lock(&mac->if_mutex);
@@ -963,6 +963,13 @@ void nr_rrc_mac_config_req_mib(module_id_t module_id, int cc_idP, NR_MIB_t *mib,
   AssertFatal(mib, "MIB should not be NULL\n");
   if (!mac->mib)
     mac->mib = calloc(1, sizeof(*mac->mib));
+  if (barred)
+    mac->state = UE_BARRED;
+  else if (mac->state == UE_BARRED) {
+    // it is synched as we received MIB
+    // nr_ue_decode_mib is transitionining to the correct state
+    mac->state = UE_NOT_SYNC;
+  }
   update_mib_conf(mac->mib, mib);
   mac->phy_config.Mod_id = module_id;
   mac->phy_config.CC_id = cc_idP;
diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/mac_proto.h b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/mac_proto.h
index 0a7365ef5d..aacbbdcab2 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/mac_proto.h
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/mac_proto.h
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ void nr_rrc_mac_config_req_cg(module_id_t module_id,
                               NR_CellGroupConfig_t *cell_group_config,
                               NR_UE_NR_Capability_t *ue_Capability);
 
-void nr_rrc_mac_config_req_mib(module_id_t module_id, int cc_idP, NR_MIB_t *mibP, int sched_sib1);
+void nr_rrc_mac_config_req_mib(module_id_t module_id, int cc_idP, NR_MIB_t *mibP, int sched_sib1, bool barred);
 
 void nr_rrc_mac_config_req_sib1(module_id_t module_id, int cc_idP, NR_SIB1_t *sib1, bool can_start_ra);
 
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/L2_interface_ue.c b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/L2_interface_ue.c
index fe2eb2cfed..6271957f4f 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/L2_interface_ue.c
+++ b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/L2_interface_ue.c
@@ -133,7 +133,11 @@ void process_msg_rcc_to_mac(MessageDef *msg)
       asn1cFreeStruc(asn_DEF_NR_CellGroupConfig, NR_MAC_RRC_CONFIG_CG(msg).cellGroupConfig);
       break;
     case NR_MAC_RRC_CONFIG_MIB:
-      nr_rrc_mac_config_req_mib(ue_id, 0, NR_MAC_RRC_CONFIG_MIB(msg).bcch->message.choice.mib, NR_MAC_RRC_CONFIG_MIB(msg).get_sib);
+      nr_rrc_mac_config_req_mib(ue_id,
+                                0,
+                                NR_MAC_RRC_CONFIG_MIB(msg).bcch->message.choice.mib,
+                                NR_MAC_RRC_CONFIG_MIB(msg).get_sib,
+                                NR_MAC_RRC_CONFIG_MIB(msg).access_barred);
       ASN_STRUCT_FREE(asn_DEF_NR_BCCH_BCH_Message, NR_MAC_RRC_CONFIG_MIB(msg).bcch);
       break;
     case NR_MAC_RRC_CONFIG_SIB1: {
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_UE.c b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_UE.c
index af0c1350c1..f858a10599 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_UE.c
+++ b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_UE.c
@@ -749,6 +749,7 @@ NR_UE_RRC_INST_t* nr_rrc_init_ue(char* uecap_file, int nb_inst, int num_ant_tx)
     rrc->reconfig_after_reestab = false;
     /* 5G-S-TMSI */
     rrc->fiveG_S_TMSI = UINT64_MAX;
+    rrc->access_barred = false;
 
     FILE *f = NULL;
     if (uecap_file)
@@ -959,11 +960,12 @@ static void nr_rrc_ue_decode_NR_BCCH_BCH_Message(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc,
   }
 
   NR_UE_RRC_SI_INFO *SI_info = &rrc->perNB[gNB_index].SInfo;
+  bool barred = rrc->access_barred || bcch_message->message.choice.mib->cellBarred == NR_MIB__cellBarred_barred;
   int get_sib = 0;
   if (IS_SA_MODE(get_softmodem_params())
       && !SI_info->sib_pending
       && bcch_message->message.present == NR_BCCH_BCH_MessageType_PR_mib
-      && bcch_message->message.choice.mib->cellBarred == NR_MIB__cellBarred_notBarred
+      && !barred
       && rrc->nrRrcState != RRC_STATE_DETACH_NR) {
     // to schedule MAC to get SI if required
     get_sib = check_si_status(SI_info);
@@ -975,6 +977,7 @@ static void nr_rrc_ue_decode_NR_BCCH_BCH_Message(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc,
     // mac will manage the pointer
     NR_MAC_RRC_CONFIG_MIB(msg).bcch = bcch_message;
     NR_MAC_RRC_CONFIG_MIB(msg).get_sib = get_sib;
+    NR_MAC_RRC_CONFIG_MIB(msg).access_barred = barred;
     itti_send_msg_to_task(TASK_MAC_UE, rrc->ue_id, msg);
   } else {
     LOG_E(NR_RRC, "RRC-received BCCH message is not a MIB\n");
@@ -1376,7 +1379,11 @@ static void nr_rrc_process_rrcsetup(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc, const NR_RRCSetup_t *
   nr_timer_stop(&timers->T319);
   nr_timer_stop(&timers->T320);
 
-  // TODO if T390 and T302 are running (not implemented)
+  // if T390 (not implemented) and T302 are running
+  // stop timer
+  // perform the actions as specified in 5.3.14.4
+  nr_timer_stop(&timers->T302);
+  handle_302_expired_stopped(rrc);
 
   // if the RRCSetup is received in response to an RRCResumeRequest, RRCResumeRequest1 or RRCSetupRequest
   // enter RRC_CONNECTED
@@ -1417,6 +1424,7 @@ static void nr_rrc_process_rrcreject(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc, const NR_RRCReject_t
   if (waitTime) {
     nr_timer_setup(&timers->T302, *waitTime * 1000, 10);
     nr_timer_start(&timers->T302);
+    rrc->access_barred = true;
   } else {
     LOG_W(RRC, "Error: waitTime should be always included in RRCReject message\n");
   }
@@ -1458,7 +1466,7 @@ static int8_t nr_rrc_ue_decode_ccch(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc, const NRRrcMacCcchDat
          break;
 
        case NR_DL_CCCH_MessageType__c1_PR_rrcReject:
-         LOG_I(NR_RRC, "[UE%ld] Logical Channel DL-CCCH (SRB0), Received RRCReject \n", rrc->ue_id);
+         LOG_W(NR_RRC, "[UE%ld] Logical Channel DL-CCCH (SRB0), Received RRCReject \n", rrc->ue_id);
          nr_rrc_process_rrcreject(rrc, dl_ccch_msg->message.choice.c1->choice.rrcReject);
          rval = 0;
          break;
@@ -2777,17 +2785,16 @@ void nr_rrc_going_to_IDLE(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc,
         nr_timer_setup(&tac->T302, target, 10);
         nr_timer_start(&tac->T302);
         // TODO inform upper layers that access barring is applicable
-        // for all access categories except categories '0' and '2'.
-        LOG_E(NR_RRC,"Go to IDLE. Handling RRCRelease message including a waitTime not implemented\n");
+        //      for all access categories except categories '0' and '2'.
+        // for now we just set the access barred in RRC
+        rrc->access_barred = true;
       }
     }
   }
   if (!waitTime) {
     if (nr_timer_is_active(&tac->T302)) {
       nr_timer_stop(&tac->T302);
-      // TODO barring alleviation as in 5.3.14.4
-      // not implemented
-      LOG_E(NR_RRC,"Go to IDLE. Barring alleviation not implemented\n");
+      handle_302_expired_stopped(rrc);
     }
   }
   if (nr_timer_is_active(&tac->T390)) {
@@ -2897,6 +2904,13 @@ void nr_rrc_going_to_IDLE(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc,
   itti_send_msg_to_task(TASK_NAS_NRUE, rrc->ue_id, msg_p);
 }
 
+void handle_302_expired_stopped(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc)
+{
+  // for each Access Category for which T390 (TODO not implemented) is not running
+  // consider the barring for this Access Category to be alleviated
+  rrc->access_barred = false;
+}
+
 void handle_t300_expiry(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc)
 {
   rrc->ra_trigger = RRC_CONNECTION_SETUP;
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_defs.h b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_defs.h
index 960dc1aaa0..c71f7697a2 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_defs.h
+++ b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_defs.h
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ typedef struct rrcPerNB {
 typedef struct NR_UE_RRC_INST_s {
   instance_t ue_id;
   rrcPerNB_t perNB[NB_CNX_UE];
-
+  bool access_barred;
   rnti_t rnti;
   uint32_t phyCellID;
   long arfcn_ssb;
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_proto.h b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_proto.h
index 7c5f749fa0..bc7f7001af 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_proto.h
+++ b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_proto.h
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ void *rrc_nrue(void *args_p);
 
 void nr_rrc_handle_timers(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc);
 void handle_rlf_detection(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc);
+void handle_302_expired_stopped(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc);
 
 /**\brief RRC NSA UE task.
    \param void *args_p Pointer on arguments to start the task. */
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_timers_and_constants.c b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_timers_and_constants.c
index 9286494f0b..57f6be2eb6 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_timers_and_constants.c
+++ b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_timers_and_constants.c
@@ -144,6 +144,14 @@ void nr_rrc_handle_timers(NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc)
     nr_rrc_going_to_IDLE(rrc, RRC_CONNECTION_FAILURE, NULL);
   }
 
+  bool t302_expired = nr_timer_tick(&timers->T302);
+  // 5.3.14.4 in 38.331
+  // consider the barring for this Access Category to be alleviated
+  if (t302_expired) {
+    LOG_W(NR_RRC, "Timer T302 expired! Access barring alleviated!\n");
+    handle_302_expired_stopped(rrc);
+  }
+
   bool t304_expired = nr_timer_tick(&timers->T304);
   if(t304_expired) {
     LOG_W(NR_RRC, "Timer T304 expired\n");