diff --git a/srsgnb/hdr/stack/mac/mac_nr.h b/srsgnb/hdr/stack/mac/mac_nr.h
index 1b26be4c5..8137e43f6 100644
--- a/srsgnb/hdr/stack/mac/mac_nr.h
+++ b/srsgnb/hdr/stack/mac/mac_nr.h
@@ -102,10 +102,13 @@ private:
   // args
   srsran::task_sched_handle task_sched;
   srsran::task_queue_handle stack_task_queue;
+  mac_nr_args_t             args = {};
+  srslog::basic_logger&     logger;
+
+  // derived
+  srsran::phy_cfg_nr_t default_ue_phy_cfg;
 
   std::unique_ptr<srsran::mac_pcap> pcap = nullptr;
-  mac_nr_args_t                     args = {};
-  srslog::basic_logger&             logger;
 
   std::atomic<bool> started = {false};
 
diff --git a/srsgnb/src/stack/mac/mac_nr.cc b/srsgnb/src/stack/mac/mac_nr.cc
index 2033591d8..e6d41ce7f 100644
--- a/srsgnb/src/stack/mac/mac_nr.cc
+++ b/srsgnb/src/stack/mac/mac_nr.cc
@@ -276,6 +276,14 @@ int mac_nr::cell_cfg(const std::vector<srsenb::sched_nr_interface::cell_cfg_t>&
 
   rx.reset(new mac_nr_rx{rlc, rrc, stack_task_queue, sched.get(), logger});
 
+  srsran::phy_cfg_nr_default_t::reference_cfg_t ref_args{};
+  ref_args.duplex = cell_config[0].duplex.mode == SRSRAN_DUPLEX_MODE_TDD
+                        ? srsran::phy_cfg_nr_default_t::reference_cfg_t::R_DUPLEX_TDD_CUSTOM_6_4
+                        : srsran::phy_cfg_nr_default_t::reference_cfg_t::R_DUPLEX_FDD;
+  default_ue_phy_cfg       = srsran::phy_cfg_nr_default_t{ref_args};
+  default_ue_phy_cfg.pdcch = cell_config[0].bwps[0].pdcch;
+  default_ue_phy_cfg.csi   = {}; // disable CSI until RA is complete
+
   return SRSRAN_SUCCESS;
 }
 
@@ -313,12 +321,7 @@ void mac_nr::rach_detected(const rach_info_t& rach_info)
     uecfg.carriers[0].active      = true;
     uecfg.carriers[0].cc          = enb_cc_idx;
     uecfg.ue_bearers[0].direction = mac_lc_ch_cfg_t::BOTH;
-    srsran::phy_cfg_nr_default_t::reference_cfg_t ref_args{};
-    ref_args.duplex = cell_config[0].duplex.mode == SRSRAN_DUPLEX_MODE_TDD
-                          ? srsran::phy_cfg_nr_default_t::reference_cfg_t::R_DUPLEX_TDD_CUSTOM_6_4
-                          : srsran::phy_cfg_nr_default_t::reference_cfg_t::R_DUPLEX_FDD;
-    uecfg.phy_cfg     = srsran::phy_cfg_nr_default_t{ref_args};
-    uecfg.phy_cfg.csi = {}; // disable CSI until RA is complete
+    uecfg.phy_cfg                 = default_ue_phy_cfg;
 
     uint16_t rnti = alloc_ue(enb_cc_idx);