diff --git a/executables/nr-softmodem-common.h b/executables/nr-softmodem-common.h
index c968fee7b6..500819e684 100644
--- a/executables/nr-softmodem-common.h
+++ b/executables/nr-softmodem-common.h
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@
 #define CONFIG_HLP_UE            "Set the lte softmodem as a UE\n"
 #define CONFIG_HLP_L2MONW        "Enable L2 wireshark messages on localhost \n"
 #define CONFIG_HLP_L2MONP        "Enable L2 pcap  messages on localhost \n"
+#define CONFIG_HLP_MAC           "Disable the MAC procedures at UE side (default is enabled)\n"
 #define CONFIG_HLP_VCD           "Enable VCD (generated file will is named openair_dump_eNB.vcd, read it with target/RT/USER/eNB.gtkw\n"
 #define CONFIG_HLP_TQFS          "Apply three-quarter of sampling frequency, 23.04 Msps to reduce the data rate on USB/PCIe transfers (only valid for 20 MHz)\n"
 #define CONFIG_HLP_TPORT         "tracer port\n"
diff --git a/executables/nr-ue.c b/executables/nr-ue.c
index dc96afbf16..ad5478e62e 100644
--- a/executables/nr-ue.c
+++ b/executables/nr-ue.c
@@ -93,7 +93,6 @@ void init_nr_ue_vars(PHY_VARS_NR_UE *ue,
   int nb_connected_gNB = 1, gNB_id;
 
   ue->Mod_id      = UE_id;
-  ue->mac_enabled = 1;
   ue->if_inst     = nr_ue_if_module_init(0);
 
   // Setting UE mode to NOT_SYNCHED by default
diff --git a/executables/nr-uesoftmodem.c b/executables/nr-uesoftmodem.c
index 1d3288862d..90a451c12b 100644
--- a/executables/nr-uesoftmodem.c
+++ b/executables/nr-uesoftmodem.c
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ volatile int             oai_exit = 0;
 extern int16_t  nr_dlsch_demod_shift;
 static int      tx_max_power[MAX_NUM_CCs] = {0};
 
+int             mac_enabled = 1;
 int      single_thread_flag = 1;
 int         threequarter_fs = 0;
 int         UE_scan_carrier = 0;
@@ -299,6 +300,7 @@ void set_options(int CC_id, PHY_VARS_NR_UE *UE){
   tx_gain[0][CC_id]   = tx_gain[0][0];
 
   // Set UE variables
+  UE->mac_enabled          = mac_enabled;
   UE->UE_scan              = UE_scan;
   UE->UE_scan_carrier      = UE_scan_carrier;
   UE->UE_fo_compensation   = UE_fo_compensation;
diff --git a/executables/nr-uesoftmodem.h b/executables/nr-uesoftmodem.h
index b2d321ae29..f11335e59e 100644
--- a/executables/nr-uesoftmodem.h
+++ b/executables/nr-uesoftmodem.h
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@
   {"E" ,                    CONFIG_HLP_TQFS,        PARAMFLAG_BOOL, iptr:&threequarter_fs,                 defintval:0,           TYPE_INT,    0}, \
   {"T" ,                    CONFIG_HLP_TDD,         PARAMFLAG_BOOL, iptr:&tddflag,                         defintval:0,           TYPE_INT,    0}, \
   {"V" ,                    CONFIG_HLP_VCD,         PARAMFLAG_BOOL, iptr:&vcdflag,                         defintval:0,           TYPE_INT,    0}, \
+  {"mac-enabled" ,          CONFIG_HLP_MAC,         PARAMFLAG_BOOL, iptr:&mac_enabled,                     defintval:1,           TYPE_INT,    0}, \
   {"ue-timing-correction-disable", CONFIG_HLP_DISABLETIMECORR, PARAMFLAG_BOOL, iptr:&UE_no_timing_correction, defintval:0,        TYPE_INT,    0}, \
   {"rrc_config_path",       CONFIG_HLP_RRC_CFG_PATH,0,              strptr:(char **)&rrc_config_path,      defstrval:"./",        TYPE_STRING, 0} \
 }
diff --git a/openair1/SCHED_NR_UE/phy_procedures_nr_ue.c b/openair1/SCHED_NR_UE/phy_procedures_nr_ue.c
index 9ce071068d..689b0b1471 100644
--- a/openair1/SCHED_NR_UE/phy_procedures_nr_ue.c
+++ b/openair1/SCHED_NR_UE/phy_procedures_nr_ue.c
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ void phy_procedures_nrUE_TX(PHY_VARS_NR_UE *ue,
   }
 
   if (get_softmodem_params()->do_ra==1) {
-    if ((ue->UE_mode[gNB_id] > NOT_SYNCHED && ue->UE_mode[gNB_id] < PUSCH) && (ue->prach_vars[gNB_id]->prach_Config_enabled == 1)) {
+    if ((ue->UE_mode[gNB_id] > NOT_SYNCHED && ue->UE_mode[gNB_id] < PUSCH) && (ue->prach_vars[gNB_id]->prach_Config_enabled == 1) && ue->mac_enabled) {
       nr_ue_prach_procedures(ue, proc, gNB_id);
     }
   }
@@ -846,9 +846,10 @@ void nr_process_rar(nr_downlink_indication_t *dl_info) {
   UE_MODE_t UE_mode = ue->UE_mode[gNB_index];
   NR_PRACH_RESOURCES_t *prach_resources = ue->prach_resources[gNB_index];
 
-  LOG_D(PHY,"[UE %d][RAPROC] Frame %d slot %d Received RAR mode %d\n", module_id, frame_rx, nr_slot_rx, UE_mode);
-
   if (ue->mac_enabled == 1) {
+
+    LOG_D(PHY,"[UE %d][RAPROC] Frame %d slot %d Received RAR mode %d\n", module_id, frame_rx, nr_slot_rx, UE_mode);
+
     if ((UE_mode != PUSCH) && (prach_resources->Msg3 != NULL)) {
 
       LOG_D(PHY,"[UE %d][RAPROC] Frame %d slot %d Invoking MAC for RAR (current preamble %d)\n", module_id, frame_rx, nr_slot_rx, prach_resources->ra_PreambleIndex);
@@ -878,10 +879,6 @@ void nr_process_rar(nr_downlink_indication_t *dl_info) {
         LOG_W(PHY,"[UE %d][RAPROC] Received RAR preamble (%d) doesn't match !!!\n", ue->Mod_id, prach_resources->ra_PreambleIndex);
       }
     }
-  } else {
-    // rar = dlsch0->harq_processes[0]->b+1;
-    // ta_command = ((((uint16_t)(rar[0]&0x7f))<<4) + (rar[1]>>4));
-    // nr_process_timing_advance_rar(ue, frame_rx, nr_slot_rx, ta_command);
   }
 }
 
@@ -2141,30 +2138,22 @@ void nr_ue_prach_procedures(PHY_VARS_NR_UE *ue, UE_nr_rxtx_proc_t *proc, uint8_t
     prach_resources->init_msg1 = 1;
   }
 
-  if (ue->mac_enabled == 0){
-    //    prach_resources->ra_PreambleIndex = preamble_tx;
-    prach_resources->ra_TDD_map_index = 0;
-    prach_resources->ra_PREAMBLE_RECEIVED_TARGET_POWER = 10;
-    prach_resources->ra_RNTI = 0x1234;
-    nr_prach = 1;
-  } else {
-    // ask L2 for RACH transport
-    LOG_D(PHY, "Getting PRACH resources. Frame %d Slot %d \n", frame_tx, nr_slot_tx);
-    // flush Msg3 Buffer
-    if (prach_resources->Msg3 == NULL){
-      for(int i = 0; i < NUMBER_OF_CONNECTED_gNB_MAX; i++) {
-        ue->ulsch_Msg3_active[i] = 0;
-      }
+  // ask L2 for RACH transport
+  LOG_D(PHY, "Getting PRACH resources. Frame %d Slot %d \n", frame_tx, nr_slot_tx);
+  // flush Msg3 Buffer
+  if (prach_resources->Msg3 == NULL){
+    for(int i = 0; i < NUMBER_OF_CONNECTED_gNB_MAX; i++) {
+      ue->ulsch_Msg3_active[i] = 0;
     }
-    nr_prach = nr_ue_get_rach(ue->prach_resources[gNB_id], &ue->prach_vars[0]->prach_pdu, mod_id, ue->CC_id, UE_mode, frame_tx, gNB_id, nr_slot_tx);
   }
 
+  nr_prach = nr_ue_get_rach(ue->prach_resources[gNB_id], &ue->prach_vars[0]->prach_pdu, mod_id, ue->CC_id, UE_mode, frame_tx, gNB_id, nr_slot_tx);
+
   if (ue->prach_resources[gNB_id] != NULL && nr_prach == 1 && prach_resources->init_msg1) {
 
     pathloss = get_nr_PL(mod_id, ue->CC_id, gNB_id);
 
-    if (ue->mac_enabled)
-      ue->tx_power_dBm[nr_slot_tx] = prach_resources->ra_PREAMBLE_RECEIVED_TARGET_POWER + pathloss;
+    ue->tx_power_dBm[nr_slot_tx] = prach_resources->ra_PREAMBLE_RECEIVED_TARGET_POWER + pathloss;
 
     LOG_I(PHY,"[UE %d][RAPROC] Frame %d, nr_slot_tx %d : Generating PRACH, preamble %d, PL %d, P0_PRACH %d, TARGET_RECEIVED_POWER %d dBm, RA-RNTI %x\n",
       ue->Mod_id,
@@ -2202,8 +2191,7 @@ void nr_ue_prach_procedures(PHY_VARS_NR_UE *ue, UE_nr_rxtx_proc_t *proc, uint8_t
       dB_fixed(prach_power),
       ue->prach_vars[gNB_id]->amp);
 
-    if (ue->mac_enabled == 1)
-      nr_Msg1_transmitted(ue->Mod_id, ue->CC_id, frame_tx, gNB_id);
+    nr_Msg1_transmitted(ue->Mod_id, ue->CC_id, frame_tx, gNB_id);
 
     LOG_I(PHY,"[UE %d][RAPROC] Frame %d, nr_slot_tx %d: Generated PRACH Msg1 (gNB %d) preamble index %d for UL, TX power %d dBm (PL %d dB) \n",
       ue->Mod_id,