diff --git a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_UE.c b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_UE.c
index f149add7e423f9e38b9f76cc53f3fc763686281f..5933f4f4b2f98800e93f53136c379b286bbdc1e4 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_UE.c
+++ b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_UE.c
@@ -120,22 +120,6 @@ nr_rrc_ue_generate_rrcReestablishmentComplete(
 
 mui_t nr_rrc_mui=0;
 
-static Rrc_State_NR_t nr_rrc_get_state (module_id_t ue_mod_idP) {
-  return NR_UE_rrc_inst[ue_mod_idP].nrRrcState;
-}
-
-static int nr_rrc_set_state (module_id_t ue_mod_idP, Rrc_State_NR_t state) {
-  AssertFatal ((RRC_STATE_FIRST_NR <= state) && (state <= RRC_STATE_LAST_NR),
-               "Invalid state %d!\n", state);
-
-  if (NR_UE_rrc_inst[ue_mod_idP].nrRrcState != state) {
-    NR_UE_rrc_inst[ue_mod_idP].nrRrcState = state;
-    return (1);
-  }
-
-  return (0);
-}
-
 static void nr_rrc_addmod_srbs(int rnti,
                                const NR_SRB_ToAddModList_t *srb_list,
                                const struct NR_CellGroupConfig__rlc_BearerToAddModList *bearer_list)
@@ -766,7 +750,8 @@ static int8_t nr_rrc_ue_decode_NR_BCCH_DL_SCH_Message(module_id_t module_id,
                                                       const uint8_t rsrp)
 {
   NR_BCCH_DL_SCH_Message_t *bcch_message = NULL;
-  NR_UE_RRC_SI_INFO *SI_info = &NR_UE_rrc_inst[module_id].SInfo[gNB_index];
+  NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc = &NR_UE_rrc_inst[module_id];
+  NR_UE_RRC_SI_INFO *SI_info = &rrc->SInfo[gNB_index];
   VCD_SIGNAL_DUMPER_DUMP_FUNCTION_BY_NAME(VCD_SIGNAL_DUMPER_FUNCTIONS_UE_DECODE_BCCH, VCD_FUNCTION_IN);
 
   asn_dec_rval_t dec_rval = uper_decode_complete(NULL,
@@ -802,17 +787,16 @@ static int8_t nr_rrc_ue_decode_NR_BCCH_DL_SCH_Message(module_id_t module_id,
         LOG_A(NR_RRC, "SIB1 decoded\n");
         SI_info->sib1_timer = 0;
         // FIXME: improve condition for the RA trigger
-        if(nr_rrc_get_state(module_id) <= RRC_STATE_IDLE_NR) {
-          NR_UE_rrc_inst[module_id].ra_trigger = INITIAL_ACCESS_FROM_RRC_IDLE;
+        if(rrc->nrRrcState == RRC_STATE_IDLE_NR) {
+          rrc->ra_trigger = INITIAL_ACCESS_FROM_RRC_IDLE;
           LOG_D(PHY,"Setting state to RRC_STATE_IDLE_NR\n");
-          nr_rrc_set_state(module_id, RRC_STATE_IDLE_NR);
         }
         // configure default SI
         nr_rrc_configure_default_SI(SI_info, sib1);
         // configure timers and constant
-        nr_rrc_set_sib1_timers_and_constants(&NR_UE_rrc_inst[module_id].timers_and_constants, sib1);
+        nr_rrc_set_sib1_timers_and_constants(&rrc->timers_and_constants, sib1);
         // take ServingCellConfigCommon and configure L1/L2
-        NR_UE_rrc_inst[module_id].servingCellConfigCommonSIB = sib1->servingCellConfigCommon;
+        rrc->servingCellConfigCommonSIB = sib1->servingCellConfigCommon;
         nr_rrc_mac_config_req_sib1(module_id, 0, sib1->si_SchedulingInfo, sib1->servingCellConfigCommon);
         nr_rrc_ue_generate_ra_msg(module_id, gNB_index);
         break;
@@ -1019,14 +1003,15 @@ static void rrc_ue_generate_RRCSetupComplete(
   nr_pdcp_data_req_srb(ctxt_pP->rntiMaybeUEid, DCCH, nr_rrc_mui++, size, buffer, deliver_pdu_srb_rlc, NULL);
 }
 
-int8_t nr_rrc_ue_decode_ccch( const protocol_ctxt_t *const ctxt_pP, const NR_SRB_INFO *const Srb_info, const uint8_t gNB_index ){
-
+int8_t nr_rrc_ue_decode_ccch( const protocol_ctxt_t *const ctxt_pP, const NR_SRB_INFO *const Srb_info, const uint8_t gNB_index )
+{
+  NR_UE_RRC_INST_t *rrc = &NR_UE_rrc_inst[ctxt_pP->module_id];
   NR_DL_CCCH_Message_t *dl_ccch_msg=NULL;
   asn_dec_rval_t dec_rval;
   int rval=0;
   VCD_SIGNAL_DUMPER_DUMP_FUNCTION_BY_NAME(VCD_SIGNAL_DUMPER_FUNCTIONS_UE_DECODE_CCCH, VCD_FUNCTION_IN);
   LOG_D(RRC,"[NR UE%d] Decoding DL-CCCH message (%d bytes), State %d\n",ctxt_pP->module_id,Srb_info->Rx_buffer.payload_size,
-        NR_UE_rrc_inst[ctxt_pP->module_id].nrRrcState);
+        rrc->nrRrcState);
    dec_rval = uper_decode(NULL,
 			  &asn_DEF_NR_DL_CCCH_Message,
 			  (void **)&dl_ccch_msg,
@@ -1065,13 +1050,13 @@ int8_t nr_rrc_ue_decode_ccch( const protocol_ctxt_t *const ctxt_pP, const NR_SRB
 
          // Get configuration
          // Release T300 timer
-         NR_UE_rrc_inst[ctxt_pP->module_id].timers_and_constants.T300_active = 0;
+         rrc->timers_and_constants.T300_active = 0;
 
          nr_rrc_ue_process_masterCellGroup(ctxt_pP, gNB_index, &dl_ccch_msg->message.choice.c1->choice.rrcSetup->criticalExtensions.choice.rrcSetup->masterCellGroup, NULL);
          nr_rrc_ue_process_RadioBearerConfig(ctxt_pP, gNB_index, &dl_ccch_msg->message.choice.c1->choice.rrcSetup->criticalExtensions.choice.rrcSetup->radioBearerConfig);
-         nr_rrc_set_state(ctxt_pP->module_id, RRC_STATE_CONNECTED_NR);
-         NR_UE_rrc_inst[ctxt_pP->module_id].rnti = ctxt_pP->rntiMaybeUEid;
-         rrc_ue_generate_RRCSetupComplete(ctxt_pP, gNB_index, dl_ccch_msg->message.choice.c1->choice.rrcSetup->rrc_TransactionIdentifier, NR_UE_rrc_inst[ctxt_pP->module_id].selected_plmn_identity);
+         rrc->nrRrcState = RRC_STATE_CONNECTED_NR;
+         rrc->rnti = ctxt_pP->rntiMaybeUEid;
+         rrc_ue_generate_RRCSetupComplete(ctxt_pP, gNB_index, dl_ccch_msg->message.choice.c1->choice.rrcSetup->rrc_TransactionIdentifier, rrc->selected_plmn_identity);
          rval = 0;
          break;
 
@@ -2107,7 +2092,7 @@ void *rrc_nrue_task(void *args_p)
         LOG_E(NR_RRC, "[UE %d] Received unexpected message %s\n", ue_mod_id, ITTI_MSG_NAME (msg_p));
         break;
     }
-    LOG_D(NR_RRC, "[UE %d] RRC Status %d\n", ue_mod_id, nr_rrc_get_state(ue_mod_id));
+    LOG_D(NR_RRC, "[UE %d] RRC Status %d\n", ue_mod_id, NR_UE_rrc_inst[ue_mod_id].nrRrcState);
     result = itti_free(ITTI_MSG_ORIGIN_ID(msg_p), msg_p);
     AssertFatal (result == EXIT_SUCCESS, "Failed to free memory (%d)!\n", result);
     msg_p = NULL;
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_defs.h b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_defs.h
index 9c5a21819f6dbf067da15954bbbc24a0d7048e7a..89dac531a5102cb43a4aed367092fd97bfa10c6c 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_defs.h
+++ b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/rrc_defs.h
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ typedef struct OAI_NR_UECapability_s {
 } OAI_NR_UECapability_t;
 
 typedef enum Rrc_State_NR_e {
-  RRC_STATE_IDLE_NR=0,
+  RRC_STATE_IDLE_NR = 0,
   RRC_STATE_INACTIVE_NR,
   RRC_STATE_CONNECTED_NR,