diff --git a/openair2/E1AP/e1ap_common.c b/openair2/E1AP/e1ap_common.c
index caf97b680d..eaa61330d1 100644
--- a/openair2/E1AP/e1ap_common.c
+++ b/openair2/E1AP/e1ap_common.c
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ void e1ap_common_init() {
   srand(time(NULL));
 }
 
-bool check_transac_id(E1AP_TransactionID_t id, int *freeIdx) {
-
+static bool check_transac_id(E1AP_TransactionID_t id, int *freeIdx)
+{
   bool isFreeIdxSet = false;
   for (int i=0; i < E1AP_MAX_NUM_TRANSAC_IDS; i++) {
     if (id == transacID[i])
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ bool check_transac_id(E1AP_TransactionID_t id, int *freeIdx) {
 E1AP_TransactionID_t E1AP_get_next_transaction_identifier() {
   E1AP_TransactionID_t genTransacId;
   bool isTransacIdValid = false;
-  int freeIdx;
+  int freeIdx = 0;
 
   while (!isTransacIdValid) {
     genTransacId = rand() & 255;
diff --git a/openair2/E1AP/e1ap_common.h b/openair2/E1AP/e1ap_common.h
index 38e7d3ca7c..5d66f3cc30 100644
--- a/openair2/E1AP/e1ap_common.h
+++ b/openair2/E1AP/e1ap_common.h
@@ -47,8 +47,6 @@ E1AP_TransactionID_t E1AP_get_next_transaction_identifier();
 
 void createE1inst(E1_t type, instance_t instance, e1ap_setup_req_t *req);
 
-bool check_transac_id(E1AP_TransactionID_t id, int *freeIdx);
-
 int e1ap_assoc_id(E1_t type, instance_t instance);
 
 int e1ap_encode_send(E1_t type, e1ap_setup_req_t *setupReq, E1AP_E1AP_PDU_t *pdu, uint16_t stream, const char *func);