diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/mac_rrc_dl_handler.c b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/mac_rrc_dl_handler.c
index 5d7642c815..e8e727ff00 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/mac_rrc_dl_handler.c
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/mac_rrc_dl_handler.c
@@ -906,6 +906,7 @@ void ue_context_release_command(const f1ap_ue_context_release_cmd_t *cmd)
   gNB_MAC_INST *mac = RC.nrmac[0];
   NR_SCHED_LOCK(&mac->sched_lock);
   NR_UE_info_t *UE = find_nr_UE(&mac->UE_info, cmd->gNB_DU_ue_id);
+  UE = UE ? UE : find_ra_UE(&mac->UE_info, cmd->gNB_DU_ue_id);
   if (UE == NULL) {
     NR_SCHED_UNLOCK(&mac->sched_lock);
     f1ap_ue_context_release_complete_t complete = {