diff --git a/include/osmocom/core/utils.h b/include/osmocom/core/utils.h
index e637786..8619120 100644
--- a/include/osmocom/core/utils.h
+++ b/include/osmocom/core/utils.h
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@
 uint8_t osmo_char2bcd(char c);
 
 int osmo_bcd2str(char *dst, size_t dst_size, const uint8_t *bcd, int start_nibble, int end_nibble, bool allow_hex);
+int osmo_str2bcd(uint8_t *dst, size_t dst_size, const char *digits, int start_nibble, int end_nibble, bool allow_hex);
 
 int osmo_hexparse(const char *str, uint8_t *b, int max_len);
 
diff --git a/include/osmocom/gsm/gsm48.h b/include/osmocom/gsm/gsm48.h
index 7c68b1d..81f6028 100644
--- a/include/osmocom/gsm/gsm48.h
+++ b/include/osmocom/gsm/gsm48.h
@@ -4,10 +4,12 @@
 
 #include <stdbool.h>
 
+#include <osmocom/core/defs.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/msgb.h>
 
 #include <osmocom/gsm/tlv.h>
 #include <osmocom/gsm/protocol/gsm_04_08.h>
+#include <osmocom/gsm/protocol/gsm_23_003.h>
 #include <osmocom/gsm/gsm48_ie.h>
 #include <osmocom/gsm/gsm23003.h>
 
@@ -48,16 +50,55 @@
 void gsm48_generate_lai2(struct gsm48_loc_area_id *lai48, const struct osmo_location_area_id *lai);
 
 #define GSM48_MID_MAX_SIZE	11
-int gsm48_generate_mid_from_tmsi(uint8_t *buf, uint32_t tmsi);
-int gsm48_generate_mid_from_imsi(uint8_t *buf, const char *imsi);
-uint8_t gsm48_generate_mid(uint8_t *buf, const char *id, uint8_t mi_type);
+int gsm48_generate_mid_from_tmsi(uint8_t *buf, uint32_t tmsi)
+	OSMO_DEPRECATED("Instead use: l = msgb_tl_put(msg, GSM48_IE_MOBILE_ID);"
+			" *l = osmo_mobile_identity_encode_msgb(...)");
+int gsm48_generate_mid_from_imsi(uint8_t *buf, const char *imsi)
+	OSMO_DEPRECATED("Instead use: l = msgb_tl_put(msg, GSM48_IE_MOBILE_ID);"
+			" *l = osmo_mobile_identity_encode_msgb(...)");
+uint8_t gsm48_generate_mid(uint8_t *buf, const char *id, uint8_t mi_type)
+	OSMO_DEPRECATED("Instead use: l = msgb_tl_put(msg, GSM48_IE_MOBILE_ID);"
+			" *l = osmo_mobile_identity_encode_msgb(...)");
 
-/* Convert Mobile Identity (10.5.1.4) to string */
-int gsm48_mi_to_string(char *string, int str_len, const uint8_t *mi, int mi_len);
 const char *gsm48_mi_type_name(uint8_t mi);
-const char *osmo_mi_name(const uint8_t *mi, uint8_t mi_len);
-char *osmo_mi_name_buf(char *buf, size_t buf_len, const uint8_t *mi, uint8_t mi_len);
-char *osmo_mi_name_c(const void *ctx, const uint8_t *mi, uint8_t mi_len);
+/* Convert encoded Mobile Identity (10.5.1.4) to string */
+int gsm48_mi_to_string(char *string, int str_len, const uint8_t *mi, int mi_len)
+	OSMO_DEPRECATED("Instead use osmo_mobile_identity_decode()");
+const char *osmo_mi_name(const uint8_t *mi, uint8_t mi_len)
+	OSMO_DEPRECATED("Instead use osmo_mobile_identity_to_str_c()");
+char *osmo_mi_name_buf(char *buf, size_t buf_len, const uint8_t *mi, uint8_t mi_len)
+	OSMO_DEPRECATED("Instead use osmo_mobile_identity_to_str_buf()");
+char *osmo_mi_name_c(const void *ctx, const uint8_t *mi, uint8_t mi_len)
+	OSMO_DEPRECATED("Instead use osmo_mobile_identity_to_str_c()");
+
+/*! Decoded representation of a Mobile Identity (3GPP TS 24.008 10.5.1.4).
+ * See osmo_mobile_identity_decode() and osmo_mobile_identity_from_l3(). */
+struct osmo_mobile_identity {
+	/*! A GSM_MI_TYPE_* constant (like GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI). */
+	uint8_t type;
+	/*! Decoded Mobile Identity digits or TMSI value. IMSI, IMEI and IMEISV as digits like
+	 * "12345678", and TMSI is represented as raw uint32_t. */
+	union {
+		/*! type == GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI. */
+		char imsi[GSM23003_IMSI_MAX_DIGITS + 1];
+		/*! type == GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEI. */
+		char imei[GSM23003_IMEI_NUM_DIGITS + 1];
+		/*! type == GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEISV. */
+		char imeisv[GSM23003_IMEISV_NUM_DIGITS + 1];
+		/*! TMSI / P-TMSI / M-TMSI integer value if type == GSM_MI_TYPE_TMSI. */
+		uint32_t tmsi;
+	};
+};
+
+int osmo_mobile_identity_to_str_buf(char *buf, size_t buflen, const struct osmo_mobile_identity *mi);
+char *osmo_mobile_identity_to_str_c(void *ctx, const struct osmo_mobile_identity *mi);
+int osmo_mobile_identity_cmp(const struct osmo_mobile_identity *a, const struct osmo_mobile_identity *b);
+int osmo_mobile_identity_decode(struct osmo_mobile_identity *mi, const uint8_t *mi_data, uint8_t mi_len,
+				bool allow_hex);
+int osmo_mobile_identity_decode_from_l3(struct osmo_mobile_identity *mi, struct msgb *msg, bool allow_hex);
+int osmo_mobile_identity_encoded_len(const struct osmo_mobile_identity *mi, int *mi_digits);
+int osmo_mobile_identity_encode_buf(uint8_t *buf, size_t buflen, const struct osmo_mobile_identity *mi, bool allow_hex);
+int osmo_mobile_identity_encode_msgb(struct msgb *msg, const struct osmo_mobile_identity *mi, bool allow_hex);
 
 /* Parse Routeing Area Identifier */
 void gsm48_parse_ra(struct gprs_ra_id *raid, const uint8_t *buf);
diff --git a/src/gb/gprs_bssgp.c b/src/gb/gprs_bssgp.c
index 38794c2..2784d0a 100644
--- a/src/gb/gprs_bssgp.c
+++ b/src/gb/gprs_bssgp.c
@@ -1170,19 +1170,20 @@
 
 	/* IMSI */
 	if (dup->imsi && strlen(dup->imsi)) {
-		uint8_t mi[GSM48_MID_MAX_SIZE];
-/* gsm48_generate_mid_from_imsi() is guaranteed to never return more than 11,
- * but somehow gcc (8.2) is not smart enough to figure this out and claims that
- * the memcpy in msgb_tvlv_put() below will cause and out-of-bounds access up to
- * mi[131], which is wrong */
-#pragma GCC diagnostic push
-#pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Warray-bounds"
-		int imsi_len = gsm48_generate_mid_from_imsi(mi, dup->imsi);
-		OSMO_ASSERT(imsi_len <= GSM48_MID_MAX_SIZE);
-		if (imsi_len > 2)
-			msgb_tvlv_push(msg, BSSGP_IE_IMSI,
-				imsi_len-2, mi+2);
-#pragma GCC diagnostic pop
+		struct osmo_mobile_identity mi = { .type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI, };
+		OSMO_STRLCPY_ARRAY(mi.imsi, dup->imsi);
+		msgb_tvl_put(msg, BSSGP_IE_IMSI, osmo_mobile_identity_encoded_len(&mi, NULL));
+		if (osmo_mobile_identity_encode_msgb(msg, &mi, false) <= 0) {
+			if (log_check_level(DBSSGP, LOGL_NOTICE)) {
+				char strbuf[64];
+				osmo_mobile_identity_to_str_buf(strbuf, sizeof(strbuf), &mi);
+				LOGP(DBSSGP, LOGL_ERROR,
+				     "NSEI=%u/BVCI=%u Cannot encode Mobile Identity %s\n",
+				     nsei, bvci, strbuf);
+			}
+			msgb_free(msg);
+			return -EINVAL;
+		}
 	}
 
 	/* DRX parameters */
@@ -1227,12 +1228,8 @@
 	struct bssgp_normal_hdr *bgph =
 			(struct bssgp_normal_hdr *) msgb_put(msg, sizeof(*bgph));
 	uint16_t drx_params = osmo_htons(pinfo->drx_params);
-	uint8_t mi[GSM48_MID_MAX_SIZE];
-	int imsi_len = gsm48_generate_mid_from_imsi(mi, pinfo->imsi);
 	struct gsm48_ra_id ra;
-
-	if (imsi_len < 2)
-		return -EINVAL;
+	struct osmo_mobile_identity mi;
 
 	msgb_nsei(msg) = nsei;
 	msgb_bvci(msg) = ns_bvci;
@@ -1241,16 +1238,23 @@
 		bgph->pdu_type = BSSGP_PDUT_PAGING_PS;
 	else
 		bgph->pdu_type = BSSGP_PDUT_PAGING_CS;
+
 	/* IMSI */
-/* gsm48_generate_mid_from_imsi() is guaranteed to never return more than 11,
- * but somehow gcc (8.2) is not smart enough to figure this out and claims that
- * the memcpy in msgb_tvlv_put() below will cause and out-of-bounds access up to
- * mi[131], which is wrong */
-#pragma GCC diagnostic push
-#pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Warray-bounds"
-	OSMO_ASSERT(imsi_len <= GSM48_MID_MAX_SIZE);
-	msgb_tvlv_put(msg, BSSGP_IE_IMSI, imsi_len-2, mi+2);
-#pragma GCC diagnostic pop
+	mi = (struct osmo_mobile_identity){ .type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI, };
+	OSMO_STRLCPY_ARRAY(mi.imsi, pinfo->imsi);
+	msgb_tvl_put(msg, BSSGP_IE_IMSI, osmo_mobile_identity_encoded_len(&mi, NULL));
+	if (osmo_mobile_identity_encode_msgb(msg, &mi, false) <= 0) {
+		if (log_check_level(DBSSGP, LOGL_NOTICE)) {
+			char strbuf[64];
+			osmo_mobile_identity_to_str_buf(strbuf, sizeof(strbuf), &mi);
+			LOGP(DBSSGP, LOGL_ERROR,
+			     "NSEI=%u/BVCI=%u Cannot encode Mobile Identity %s\n",
+			     nsei, ns_bvci, strbuf);
+		}
+		msgb_free(msg);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	/* DRX Parameters */
 	msgb_tvlv_put(msg, BSSGP_IE_DRX_PARAMS, 2,
 			(uint8_t *) &drx_params);
diff --git a/src/gb/gprs_bssgp_bss.c b/src/gb/gprs_bssgp_bss.c
index 5c9d11c..9e9cefc 100644
--- a/src/gb/gprs_bssgp_bss.c
+++ b/src/gb/gprs_bssgp_bss.c
@@ -178,22 +178,17 @@
 				const char *imsi)
 {
 	struct msgb *msg = common_tx_radio_status(bctx);
-	uint8_t mi[GSM48_MID_MAX_SIZE];
-	int imsi_len = gsm48_generate_mid_from_imsi(mi, imsi);
+	struct osmo_mobile_identity mi = { .type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI, };
+	OSMO_STRLCPY_ARRAY(mi.imsi, imsi);
 
 	if (!msg)
 		return -ENOMEM;
-/* gsm48_generate_mid_from_imsi() is guaranteed to never return more than 11,
- * but somehow gcc (8.2) is not smart enough to figure this out and claims that
- * the memcpy in msgb_tvlv_put() below will cause and out-of-bounds access up to
- * mi[131], which is wrong */
-#pragma GCC diagnostic push
-#pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Warray-bounds"
-	OSMO_ASSERT(imsi_len <= GSM48_MID_MAX_SIZE);
-	/* strip the MI type and length values (2 bytes) */
-	if (imsi_len > 2)
-		msgb_tvlv_put(msg, BSSGP_IE_IMSI, imsi_len-2, mi+2);
-#pragma GCC diagnostic pop
+
+	msgb_tvl_put(msg, BSSGP_IE_IMSI, osmo_mobile_identity_encoded_len(&mi, NULL));
+	if (osmo_mobile_identity_encode_msgb(msg, &mi, false) <= 0) {
+		msgb_free(msg);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 	LOGPC(DBSSGP, LOGL_NOTICE, "IMSI=%s ", imsi);
 
 	return common_tx_radio_status2(msg, cause);
@@ -486,6 +481,7 @@
 	struct tlv_parsed tp;
 	uint8_t ra[6];
 	int rc, data_len;
+	struct osmo_mobile_identity mi;
 
 	memset(ra, 0, sizeof(ra));
 
@@ -510,9 +506,11 @@
 		goto err_mand_ie;
 	if (!pinfo->imsi)
 		pinfo->imsi = talloc_zero_size(pinfo, GSM_IMSI_LENGTH);
-	gsm48_mi_to_string(pinfo->imsi, GSM_IMSI_LENGTH,
-			   TLVP_VAL(&tp, BSSGP_IE_IMSI),
-			   TLVP_LEN(&tp, BSSGP_IE_IMSI));
+	if (osmo_mobile_identity_decode(&mi, TLVP_VAL(&tp, BSSGP_IE_IMSI), TLVP_LEN(&tp, BSSGP_IE_IMSI), false))
+		goto err_mand_ie;
+	if (mi.type != GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI)
+		goto err_mand_ie;
+	osmo_talloc_replace_string(pinfo, &pinfo->imsi, mi.imsi);
 
 	/* DRX Parameters */
 	if (!TLVP_PRESENT(&tp, BSSGP_IE_DRX_PARAMS))
diff --git a/src/gsm/gsm0808.c b/src/gsm/gsm0808.c
index 9fdf379..6560d4b 100644
--- a/src/gsm/gsm0808.c
+++ b/src/gsm/gsm0808.c
@@ -730,9 +730,10 @@
 				    const uint8_t *chan_needed)
 {
 	struct msgb *msg;
-	uint8_t mid_buf[GSM48_MI_SIZE + 2];
-	int mid_len;
+	struct osmo_mobile_identity mi;
 	uint32_t tmsi_sw;
+	uint8_t *l;
+	int rc;
 
 	/* Mandatory elements! */
 	OSMO_ASSERT(imsi);
@@ -750,8 +751,15 @@
 	msgb_v_put(msg, BSS_MAP_MSG_PAGING);
 
 	/* mandatory IMSI 3.2.2.6 */
-	mid_len = gsm48_generate_mid_from_imsi(mid_buf, imsi);
-	msgb_tlv_put(msg, GSM0808_IE_IMSI, mid_len - 2, mid_buf + 2);
+	mi = (struct osmo_mobile_identity){ .type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI, };
+	OSMO_STRLCPY_ARRAY(mi.imsi, imsi);
+	l = msgb_tl_put(msg, GSM0808_IE_IMSI);
+	rc = osmo_mobile_identity_encode_msgb(msg, &mi, false);
+	if (rc <= 0) {
+		msgb_free(msg);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	*l = rc;
 
 	/* TMSI 3.2.2.7 */
 	if (tmsi) {
@@ -967,9 +975,17 @@
 
 	/* IMSI 3.2.2.6 */
 	if (params->imsi) {
-		uint8_t mid_buf[GSM48_MI_SIZE + 2];
-		int mid_len = gsm48_generate_mid_from_imsi(mid_buf, params->imsi);
-		msgb_tlv_put(msg, GSM0808_IE_IMSI, mid_len - 2, mid_buf + 2);
+		uint8_t *l;
+		int rc;
+		struct osmo_mobile_identity mi = { .type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI, };
+		OSMO_STRLCPY_ARRAY(mi.imsi, params->imsi);
+		l = msgb_tl_put(msg, GSM0808_IE_IMSI);
+		rc = osmo_mobile_identity_encode_msgb(msg, &mi, false);
+		if (rc <= 0) {
+			msgb_free(msg);
+			return NULL;
+		}
+		*l = rc;
 	}
 
 	if (params->aoip_transport_layer)
diff --git a/src/gsm/gsm29118.c b/src/gsm/gsm29118.c
index 2c02b2f..5c72b4d 100644
--- a/src/gsm/gsm29118.c
+++ b/src/gsm/gsm29118.c
@@ -219,12 +219,14 @@
 /* Encode IMSI from string representation and append to SGSaAP msg */
 static void msgb_sgsap_imsi_put(struct msgb *msg, const char *imsi)
 {
-	uint8_t buf[16];
-	uint8_t len;
-	/* encoding is just like TS 04.08 */
-	len = gsm48_generate_mid_from_imsi(buf, imsi);
-	/* skip first two bytes (tag+length) so we can use msgb_tlv_put */
-	msgb_tlv_put(msg, SGSAP_IE_IMSI, len - 2, buf + 2);
+	int rc;
+	struct osmo_mobile_identity mi = { .type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI, };
+	uint8_t *l;
+	OSMO_STRLCPY_ARRAY(mi.imsi, imsi);
+	l = msgb_tl_put(msg, SGSAP_IE_IMSI);
+	rc = osmo_mobile_identity_encode_msgb(msg, &mi, false);
+	/* This function fails to do error handling, so in case of error, leave the len == 0. */
+	*l = rc > 0? rc : 0;
 }
 
 /* Encode LAI from struct representation and append to SGSaAP msg */
diff --git a/src/gsm/gsm48.c b/src/gsm/gsm48.c
index 8d0998b..11bd361 100644
--- a/src/gsm/gsm48.c
+++ b/src/gsm/gsm48.c
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
 #include <osmocom/gsm/protocol/gsm_04_80.h>
 #include <osmocom/gsm/protocol/gsm_08_58.h>
 #include <osmocom/gsm/protocol/gsm_04_08_gprs.h>
+#include <osmocom/gsm/protocol/gsm_23_003.h>
 
 /*! \addtogroup gsm0408
  *  @{
@@ -458,70 +459,500 @@
 	return get_value_string(mi_type_names, mi);
 }
 
-/*! Return a human readable representation of a Mobile Identity in caller-provided buffer.
+/*! Deprecated, see osmo_mobile_identity instead.
+ * Return a human readable representation of a Mobile Identity in caller-provided buffer.
  * \param[out] buf caller-provided output buffer
  * \param[in] buf_len size of buf in bytes
  * \param[in] mi  Mobile Identity buffer containing 3GPP TS 04.08 style MI type and data.
  * \param[in] mi_len  Length of mi.
  * \return buf
  */
-char *osmo_mi_name_buf(char *buf, size_t buf_len, const uint8_t *mi, uint8_t mi_len)
+char *osmo_mi_name_buf(char *buf, size_t buf_len, const uint8_t *mi_data, uint8_t mi_len)
 {
-	uint8_t mi_type;
-	uint32_t tmsi;
-	char mi_string[GSM48_MI_SIZE];
-
-	mi_type = (mi && mi_len) ? (mi[0] & GSM_MI_TYPE_MASK) : GSM_MI_TYPE_NONE;
-
-	switch (mi_type) {
-	case GSM_MI_TYPE_TMSI:
-		/* Table 10.5.4.3, reverse generate_mid_from_tmsi */
-		if (mi_len == GSM48_TMSI_LEN && mi[0] == (0xf0 | GSM_MI_TYPE_TMSI)) {
-			tmsi = osmo_load32be(&mi[1]);
-			snprintf(buf, buf_len, "TMSI-0x%08" PRIX32, tmsi);
-		} else {
-			snprintf(buf, buf_len, "TMSI-invalid");
-		}
-		return buf;
-
-	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI:
-	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEI:
-	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEISV:
-		osmo_bcd2str(mi_string, sizeof(mi_string), mi, 1, (mi_len * 2) - (mi[0] & GSM_MI_ODD ? 0 : 1), true);
-		snprintf(buf, buf_len, "%s-%s", gsm48_mi_type_name(mi_type), mi_string);
-		return buf;
-
-	default:
+	struct osmo_mobile_identity mi;
+	if (osmo_mobile_identity_decode(&mi, mi_data, mi_len, true)) {
 		snprintf(buf, buf_len, "unknown");
 		return buf;
 	}
+	osmo_mobile_identity_to_str_buf(buf, buf_len, &mi);
+	return buf;
 }
 
-/*! Return a human readable representation of a Mobile Identity in static buffer.
+/*! Deprecated, see osmo_mobile_identity instead.
+ * Return a human readable representation of a Mobile Identity in static buffer.
  * \param[in] mi  Mobile Identity buffer containing 3GPP TS 04.08 style MI type and data.
  * \param[in] mi_len  Length of mi.
  * \return A string like "IMSI-1234567", "TMSI-0x1234ABCD" or "unknown", "TMSI-invalid"...
  */
-const char *osmo_mi_name(const uint8_t *mi, uint8_t mi_len)
+const char *osmo_mi_name(const uint8_t *mi_data, uint8_t mi_len)
 {
 	static __thread char mi_name[10 + GSM48_MI_SIZE + 1];
-	return osmo_mi_name_buf(mi_name, sizeof(mi_name), mi, mi_len);
+	struct osmo_mobile_identity mi;
+	if (osmo_mobile_identity_decode(&mi, mi_data, mi_len, true) == 0)
+		osmo_mobile_identity_to_str_buf(mi_name, sizeof(mi_name), &mi);
+	else
+		snprintf(mi_name, sizeof(mi_name), "unknown");
+	return mi_name;
 }
 
-/*! Return a human readable representation of a Mobile Identity in dynamically-allocated buffer.
+/*! Deprecated, see osmo_mobile_identity instead.
+ * Return a human readable representation of a Mobile Identity in dynamically-allocated buffer.
  * \param[in] ctx talloc context from which to allocate output buffer
  * \param[in] mi  Mobile Identity buffer containing 3GPP TS 04.08 style MI type and data.
  * \param[in] mi_len  Length of mi.
  * \return A string like "IMSI-1234567", "TMSI-0x1234ABCD" or "unknown", "TMSI-invalid" in a
  * 	   dynamically-allocated output buffer.
  */
-char *osmo_mi_name_c(const void *ctx, const uint8_t *mi, uint8_t mi_len)
+char *osmo_mi_name_c(const void *ctx, const uint8_t *mi_data, uint8_t mi_len)
 {
-	size_t buf_len = 10 + GSM48_MI_SIZE + 1;
-	char *mi_name = talloc_size(ctx, buf_len);
-	if (!mi_name)
-		return NULL;
-	return osmo_mi_name_buf(mi_name, buf_len, mi, mi_len);
+	struct osmo_mobile_identity mi;
+	if (osmo_mobile_identity_decode(&mi, mi_data, mi_len, true))
+		return talloc_strdup((void*)ctx, "unknown");
+	return osmo_mobile_identity_to_str_c((void*)ctx, &mi);
+}
+
+/*! Extract Mobile Identity from encoded bytes (3GPP TS 24.008 10.5.1.4).
+ *
+ * On failure (negative return value), mi->type == GSM_MI_TYPE_NONE, mi->string[] is all-zero and mi->tmsi ==
+ * GSM_RESERVED_TMSI.
+ *
+ * On success, mi->type reflects the decoded Mobile Identity type (GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI, GSM_MI_TYPE_TMSI, GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEI
+ * or GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEISV).
+ *
+ * On success, mi->string always contains a human readable representation of the Mobile Identity digits: IMSI, IMEI and
+ * IMEISV as digits like "12345678", and TMSI as "0x" and 8 hexadecimal digits like "0x1234abcd".
+ *
+ * mi->tmsi contains the uint32_t TMSI value iff the extracted Mobile Identity was a TMSI, or GSM_RESERVED_TMSI
+ * otherwise.
+ *
+ * \param[out] mi  Return buffer for decoded Mobile Identity.
+ * \param[in] mi_data  The encoded Mobile Identity octets.
+ * \param[in] mi_len  Number of octets in mi_data.
+ * \param[in] allow_hex  If false, hexadecimal digits (>9) result in an error return value.
+ * \returns 0 on success, negative on error: -EBADMSG = invalid length indication or invalid data,
+ *          -EINVAL = unknown Mobile Identity type.
+ */
+int osmo_mobile_identity_decode(struct osmo_mobile_identity *mi, const uint8_t *mi_data, uint8_t mi_len,
+				bool allow_hex)
+{
+	int rc;
+	int nibbles_len;
+	char *str;
+	size_t str_size;
+
+	if (!mi_data || mi_len < 1)
+		return -EBADMSG;
+
+	nibbles_len = (mi_len - 1) * 2 + ((mi_data[0] & GSM_MI_ODD) ? 1 : 0);
+
+	*mi = (struct osmo_mobile_identity){
+		.type = mi_data[0] & GSM_MI_TYPE_MASK,
+	};
+
+	/* First do length checks */
+	switch (mi->type) {
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_TMSI:
+		mi->tmsi = GSM_RESERVED_TMSI;
+		if (nibbles_len != (GSM23003_TMSI_NUM_BYTES * 2)) {
+			rc = -EBADMSG;
+			goto return_error;
+		}
+		break;
+
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI:
+		if (nibbles_len < GSM23003_IMSI_MIN_DIGITS || nibbles_len > GSM23003_IMSI_MAX_DIGITS) {
+			rc = -EBADMSG;
+			goto return_error;
+		}
+		str = mi->imsi;
+		str_size = sizeof(mi->imsi);
+		break;
+
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEI:
+		if (nibbles_len != GSM23003_IMEI_NUM_DIGITS && nibbles_len != GSM23003_IMEI_NUM_DIGITS_NO_CHK) {
+			rc = -EBADMSG;
+			goto return_error;
+		}
+		str = mi->imei;
+		str_size = sizeof(mi->imei);
+		break;
+
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEISV:
+		if (nibbles_len != GSM23003_IMEISV_NUM_DIGITS) {
+			rc = -EBADMSG;
+			goto return_error;
+		}
+		str = mi->imeisv;
+		str_size = sizeof(mi->imeisv);
+		break;
+
+	default:
+		rc = -EINVAL;
+		goto return_error;
+	}
+
+	/* Decode BCD digits */
+	switch (mi->type) {
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_TMSI:
+		/* MI is a 32bit integer TMSI. Length has been checked above. */
+		if ((mi_data[0] & 0xf0) != 0xf0) {
+			/* A TMSI always has the first nibble == 0xf */
+			rc = -EBADMSG;
+			goto return_error;
+		}
+		mi->tmsi = osmo_load32be(&mi_data[1]);
+		return 0;
+
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI:
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEI:
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEISV:
+		/* If the length is even, the last nibble (higher nibble of last octet) must be 0xf */
+		if (!(mi_data[0] & GSM_MI_ODD)
+		    && ((mi_data[mi_len - 1] & 0xf0) != 0xf0)) {
+			rc = -EBADMSG;
+			goto return_error;
+		}
+		rc = osmo_bcd2str(str, str_size, mi_data, 1, 1 + nibbles_len, allow_hex);
+		/* rc checked below */
+		break;
+
+	default:
+		/* Already handled above, but as future bug paranoia: */
+		rc = -EINVAL;
+		goto return_error;
+	}
+
+	/* check mi->str printing rc */
+	if (rc < 1 || rc >= str_size) {
+		rc = -EBADMSG;
+		goto return_error;
+	}
+	return 0;
+
+return_error:
+	*mi = (struct osmo_mobile_identity){
+		.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_NONE,
+	};
+	return rc;
+}
+
+/*! Return the number of encoded Mobile Identity octets, without actually encoding.
+ * Useful to write tag-length header before encoding the MI.
+ * \param[in] mi  Mobile Identity.
+ * \param[out] mi_digits  If not NULL, store the number of nibbles of used MI data (i.e. strlen(mi->string) or 8 for a TMSI).
+ * \return octets that osmo_mobile_identity_encode_msgb() will write for this mi.
+ */
+int osmo_mobile_identity_encoded_len(const struct osmo_mobile_identity *mi, int *mi_digits)
+{
+	int mi_nibbles;
+	if (!mi)
+		return -EINVAL;
+	switch (mi->type) {
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_TMSI:
+		mi_nibbles = GSM23003_TMSI_NUM_BYTES * 2;
+		break;
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI:
+		mi_nibbles = strlen(mi->imsi);
+		if (mi_nibbles < GSM23003_IMSI_MIN_DIGITS
+		    || mi_nibbles > GSM23003_IMSI_MAX_DIGITS)
+			return -EINVAL;
+		break;
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEI:
+		mi_nibbles = strlen(mi->imei);
+		if (mi_nibbles < GSM23003_IMEI_NUM_DIGITS_NO_CHK
+		    || mi_nibbles > GSM23003_IMEI_NUM_DIGITS)
+			return -EINVAL;
+		break;
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEISV:
+		mi_nibbles = strlen(mi->imeisv);
+		if (mi_nibbles != GSM23003_IMEISV_NUM_DIGITS)
+			return -EINVAL;
+		break;
+	default:
+		return -ENOTSUP;
+	}
+
+	if (mi_digits)
+		*mi_digits = mi_nibbles;
+
+	/* one type nibble, plus the MI nibbles, plus a filler nibble to complete the last octet:
+	 * mi_octets = ceil((float)(mi_nibbles + 1) / 2)
+	 */
+	return (mi_nibbles + 2) / 2;
+}
+
+/*! Encode Mobile Identity from uint32_t (TMSI) or digits string (all others) (3GPP TS 24.008 10.5.1.4).
+ *
+ * \param[out] buf  Return buffer for encoded Mobile Identity.
+ * \param[in] buflen  sizeof(buf).
+ * \param[in] mi  Mobile identity to encode.
+ * \param[in] allow_hex  If false, hexadecimal digits (>9) result in an error return value.
+ * \returns Amount of bytes written to buf, or negative on error.
+ */
+int osmo_mobile_identity_encode_buf(uint8_t *buf, size_t buflen, const struct osmo_mobile_identity *mi, bool allow_hex)
+{
+	int rc;
+	int nibbles_len;
+	int mi_octets;
+	const char *mi_str;
+
+	if (!buf || !buflen)
+		return -EIO;
+
+	mi_octets = osmo_mobile_identity_encoded_len(mi, &nibbles_len);
+	if (mi_octets < 0)
+		return mi_octets;
+	if (mi_octets > buflen)
+		return -ENOSPC;
+
+	buf[0] = (mi->type & GSM_MI_TYPE_MASK) | ((nibbles_len & 1) ? GSM_MI_ODD : 0);
+
+	switch (mi->type) {
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_TMSI:
+		buf[0] |= 0xf0;
+		osmo_store32be(mi->tmsi, &buf[1]);
+		return mi_octets;
+
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI:
+		mi_str = mi->imsi;
+		break;
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEI:
+		mi_str = mi->imei;
+		break;
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEISV:
+		mi_str = mi->imeisv;
+		break;
+	default:
+		return -ENOTSUP;
+	}
+	rc = osmo_str2bcd(buf, buflen, mi_str, 1, -1, allow_hex);
+	if (rc != mi_octets)
+		return -EINVAL;
+	return mi_octets;
+}
+
+/*! Encode Mobile Identity type and BCD digits, appended to a msgb.
+ * Example to add a GSM48_IE_MOBILE_ID IEI with tag and length to a msgb:
+ *
+ *  struct osmo_mobile_identity mi = { .type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI, .tmsi = random_tmsi, };
+ *  uint8_t *l = msgb_tl_put(msg, GSM48_IE_MOBILE_ID);
+ *  int rc = osmo_mobile_identity_encode_msgb(msg, &mi, false);
+ *  if (rc < 0)
+ *          goto error;
+ *  *l = rc;
+ *
+ * Example to add a BSSGP_IE_IMSI with tag and variable-size length, where the
+ * length needs to be known at the time of writing the IE tag-length header:
+ *
+ *  struct osmo_mobile_identity mi = { .type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI, };
+ *  OSMO_STRLCPY_ARRAY(mi.imsi, pinfo->imsi);
+ *  msgb_tvl_put(msg, BSSGP_IE_IMSI, osmo_mobile_identity_encoded_len(&mi, NULL));
+ *  if (osmo_mobile_identity_encode_msgb(msg, &mi, false) < 0)
+ *          goto error;
+ */
+int osmo_mobile_identity_encode_msgb(struct msgb *msg, const struct osmo_mobile_identity *mi, bool allow_hex)
+{
+	int rc = osmo_mobile_identity_encode_buf(msg->tail, msgb_tailroom(msg), mi, allow_hex);
+	if (rc < 0)
+		return rc;
+	msgb_put(msg, rc);
+	return rc;
+}
+
+/*! Extract Mobile Identity from a Complete Layer 3 message.
+ *
+ * Determine the Mobile Identity data and call osmo_mobile_identity_decode() to return a decoded struct
+ * osmo_mobile_identity.
+ *
+ * \param[out] mi  Return buffer for decoded Mobile Identity.
+ * \param[in] msg  The Complete Layer 3 message to extract from (LU, CM Service Req or Paging Resp).
+ * \returns 0 on success, negative on error: return codes as defined in osmo_mobile_identity_decode(), or
+ *          -ENOTSUP = not a Complete Layer 3 message,
+ */
+int osmo_mobile_identity_decode_from_l3(struct osmo_mobile_identity *mi, struct msgb *msg, bool allow_hex)
+{
+	const struct gsm48_hdr *gh;
+	int8_t pdisc = 0;
+	uint8_t mtype = 0;
+	const struct gsm48_loc_upd_req *lu;
+	const uint8_t *cm2_buf;
+	uint8_t cm2_len;
+	const uint8_t *mi_start;
+	const struct gsm48_pag_resp *paging_response;
+	const uint8_t *mi_data;
+	uint8_t mi_len;
+	const struct gsm48_imsi_detach_ind *idi;
+
+	*mi = (struct osmo_mobile_identity){
+		.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_NONE,
+		.tmsi = GSM_RESERVED_TMSI,
+	};
+
+	if (msgb_l3len(msg) < sizeof(*gh))
+		return -EBADMSG;
+
+	gh = msgb_l3(msg);
+	pdisc = gsm48_hdr_pdisc(gh);
+	mtype = gsm48_hdr_msg_type(gh);
+
+	switch (pdisc) {
+	case GSM48_PDISC_MM:
+
+		switch (mtype) {
+		case GSM48_MT_MM_LOC_UPD_REQUEST:
+			/* First make sure that lu-> can be dereferenced */
+			if (msgb_l3len(msg) < sizeof(*gh) + sizeof(*lu))
+				return -EBADMSG;
+
+			/* Now we know there is enough msgb data to read a lu->mi_len, so also check that */
+			lu = (struct gsm48_loc_upd_req*)gh->data;
+			if (msgb_l3len(msg) < sizeof(*gh) + sizeof(*lu) + lu->mi_len)
+				return -EBADMSG;
+			mi_data = lu->mi;
+			mi_len = lu->mi_len;
+			goto got_mi;
+
+		case GSM48_MT_MM_CM_SERV_REQ:
+		case GSM48_MT_MM_CM_REEST_REQ:
+			/* Unfortunately in Phase1 the Classmark2 length is variable, so we cannot
+			 * just use gsm48_service_request struct, and need to parse it manually. */
+			if (msgb_l3len(msg) < sizeof(*gh) + 2)
+				return -EBADMSG;
+
+			cm2_len = gh->data[1];
+			cm2_buf = gh->data + 2;
+			goto got_cm2;
+
+		case GSM48_MT_MM_IMSI_DETACH_IND:
+			if (msgb_l3len(msg) < sizeof(*gh) + sizeof(*idi))
+				return -EBADMSG;
+			idi = (struct gsm48_imsi_detach_ind*) gh->data;
+			mi_data = idi->mi;
+			mi_len = idi->mi_len;
+			goto got_mi;
+
+		case GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP:
+			if (msgb_l3len(msg) < sizeof(*gh) + 2)
+				return -EBADMSG;
+			mi_data = gh->data+1;
+			mi_len = gh->data[0];
+			goto got_mi;
+
+		default:
+			break;
+		}
+		break;
+
+	case GSM48_PDISC_RR:
+
+		switch (mtype) {
+		case GSM48_MT_RR_PAG_RESP:
+			if (msgb_l3len(msg) < sizeof(*gh) + sizeof(*paging_response))
+				return -EBADMSG;
+			paging_response = (struct gsm48_pag_resp*)gh->data;
+			cm2_len = paging_response->cm2_len;
+			cm2_buf = (uint8_t*)&paging_response->cm2;
+			goto got_cm2;
+
+		default:
+			break;
+		}
+		break;
+	}
+
+	return -ENOTSUP;
+
+got_cm2:
+	/* MI (Mobile Identity) LV follows the Classmark2 */
+
+	/* There must be at least a mi_len byte after the CM2 */
+	if (cm2_buf + cm2_len + 1 > msg->tail)
+		return -EBADMSG;
+
+	mi_start = cm2_buf + cm2_len;
+	mi_len = mi_start[0];
+	mi_data = mi_start + 1;
+
+got_mi:
+	/* mi_data points at the start of the Mobile Identity coding of mi_len bytes */
+	if (mi_data + mi_len > msg->tail)
+		return -EBADMSG;
+
+	return osmo_mobile_identity_decode(mi, mi_data, mi_len, allow_hex);
+}
+
+/*! Return a human readable representation of a struct osmo_mobile_identity.
+ * Write a string like "IMSI-1234567", "TMSI-0x1234ABCD" or "NONE", "NULL".
+ * \param[out] buf  String buffer to write to.
+ * \param[in] buflen  sizeof(buf).
+ * \param[in] mi  Decoded Mobile Identity data.
+ * \return the strlen() of the string written when buflen is sufficiently large, like snprintf().
+ */
+int osmo_mobile_identity_to_str_buf(char *buf, size_t buflen, const struct osmo_mobile_identity *mi)
+{
+	struct osmo_strbuf sb = { .buf = buf, .len = buflen };
+	if (!mi)
+		return snprintf(buf, buflen, "NULL");
+	OSMO_STRBUF_PRINTF(sb, "%s", gsm48_mi_type_name(mi->type));
+	switch (mi->type) {
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_TMSI:
+		OSMO_STRBUF_PRINTF(sb, "-0x%08" PRIX32, mi->tmsi);
+		break;
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI:
+		OSMO_STRBUF_PRINTF(sb, "-%s", mi->imsi);
+		break;
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEI:
+		OSMO_STRBUF_PRINTF(sb, "-%s", mi->imei);
+		break;
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEISV:
+		OSMO_STRBUF_PRINTF(sb, "-%s", mi->imeisv);
+		break;
+	default:
+		break;
+	}
+	return sb.chars_needed;
+}
+
+/*! Like osmo_mobile_identity_to_str_buf(), but return the string in a talloc buffer.
+ * \param[in] ctx  Talloc context to allocate from.
+ * \param[in] mi  Decoded Mobile Identity data.
+ * \return a string like "IMSI-1234567", "TMSI-0x1234ABCD" or "NONE", "NULL".
+ */
+char *osmo_mobile_identity_to_str_c(void *ctx, const struct osmo_mobile_identity *mi)
+{
+        OSMO_NAME_C_IMPL(ctx, 32, "ERROR", osmo_mobile_identity_to_str_buf, mi)
+}
+
+/*! Compare two osmo_mobile_identity structs, returning typical cmp() result.
+ * \param[in] a  Left side osmo_mobile_identity.
+ * \param[in] b  Right side osmo_mobile_identity.
+ * \returns 0 if both are equal, -1 if a < b, 1 if a > b.
+ */
+int osmo_mobile_identity_cmp(const struct osmo_mobile_identity *a, const struct osmo_mobile_identity *b)
+{
+	int cmp;
+	if (a == b)
+		return 0;
+	if (!a)
+		return -1;
+	if (!b)
+		return 1;
+	cmp = OSMO_CMP(a->type, b->type);
+	if (cmp)
+		return cmp;
+	switch (a->type) {
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_TMSI:
+		return OSMO_CMP(a->tmsi, b->tmsi);
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI:
+		return strncmp(a->imsi, b->imsi, sizeof(a->imsi));
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEI:
+		return strncmp(a->imei, b->imei, sizeof(a->imei));
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEISV:
+		return strncmp(a->imeisv, b->imeisv, sizeof(a->imeisv));
+	default:
+		/* No known type, but both have the same type. */
+		return 0;
+	}
 }
 
 /*! Checks is particular message is cipherable in A/Gb mode according to
@@ -676,64 +1107,76 @@
 	}
 }
 
-/*! Generate TS 04.08 Mobile ID from TMSI
+static int legacy_compat_generate_mid(uint8_t *buf, const struct osmo_mobile_identity *mi)
+{
+	int rc;
+	buf[0] = GSM48_IE_MOBILE_ID;
+	rc = osmo_mobile_identity_encode_buf(buf + 2, GSM48_MID_MAX_SIZE - 2, mi, false);
+	if (rc <= 0)
+		return 0;
+	OSMO_ASSERT(rc <= 9);
+	buf[1] = rc;
+	return 2 + rc;
+}
+
+/*! Deprecated, see osmo_mobile_identity instead.
+ * Generate TS 04.08 Mobile ID from TMSI
  *  \param[out] buf Caller-provided output buffer (7 bytes)
  *  \param[in] tmsi TMSI to be encoded
  *  \returns number of byes encoded (always 7) */
 int gsm48_generate_mid_from_tmsi(uint8_t *buf, uint32_t tmsi)
 {
-	uint32_t tmsi_be = osmo_htonl(tmsi);
-
-	buf[0] = GSM48_IE_MOBILE_ID;
-	buf[1] = GSM48_TMSI_LEN;
-	buf[2] = 0xf0 | GSM_MI_TYPE_TMSI;
-	memcpy(&buf[3], &tmsi_be, sizeof(tmsi_be));
-
-	return 7;
+	struct osmo_mobile_identity mi = {
+		.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_TMSI,
+		.tmsi = tmsi,
+	};
+	return legacy_compat_generate_mid(buf, &mi);
 }
 
-/*! Generate TS 24.008 §10.5.1.4 Mobile ID of BCD type from ASCII string
+/*! Deprecated, see osmo_mobile_identity instead.
+ * Generate TS 24.008 §10.5.1.4 Mobile ID of BCD type from ASCII string
  *  \param[out] buf Caller-provided output buffer of at least GSM48_MID_MAX_SIZE bytes
  *  \param[in] id Identity to be encoded
  *  \param[in] mi_type Type of identity (e.g. GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI, IMEI, IMEISV)
  *  \returns number of bytes used in \a buf */
 uint8_t gsm48_generate_mid(uint8_t *buf, const char *id, uint8_t mi_type)
 {
-	uint8_t length = strnlen(id, 16), i, off = 0, odd = (length & 1) == 1;
-	/* maximum length == 16 (IMEISV) */
-
-	buf[0] = GSM48_IE_MOBILE_ID;
-	buf[2] = osmo_char2bcd(id[0]) << 4 | (mi_type & GSM_MI_TYPE_MASK) | (odd << 3);
-
-	/* if the length is even we will fill half of the last octet */
-	buf[1] = (length + (odd ? 1 : 2)) >> 1;
-	/* buf[1] maximum = 18/2 = 9 */
-	OSMO_ASSERT(buf[1] <= 9);
-
-	for (i = 1; i < buf[1]; ++i) {
-		uint8_t upper, lower = osmo_char2bcd(id[++off]);
-		if (!odd && off + 1 == length)
-			upper = 0x0f;
-		else
-			upper = osmo_char2bcd(id[++off]) & 0x0f;
-
-		buf[2 + i] = (upper << 4) | lower;
+	struct osmo_mobile_identity mi = { .type = mi_type };
+	switch (mi_type) {
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_TMSI:
+		mi.tmsi = strtoul(id, NULL, 10);
+		break;
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI:
+		OSMO_STRLCPY_ARRAY(mi.imsi, id);
+		break;
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEI:
+		OSMO_STRLCPY_ARRAY(mi.imei, id);
+		break;
+	case GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEISV:
+		OSMO_STRLCPY_ARRAY(mi.imeisv, id);
+		break;
+	default:
+		return 0;
 	}
-
-	/* maximum return value: 2 + 9 = 11 */
-	return 2 + buf[1];
+	return legacy_compat_generate_mid(buf, &mi);
 }
 
-/*! Generate TS 04.08 Mobile ID from IMSI
+/*! Deprecated, see osmo_mobile_identity instead.
+ * Generate TS 04.08 Mobile ID from IMSI
  *  \param[out] buf Caller-provided output buffer
  *  \param[in] imsi IMSI to be encoded
  *  \returns number of bytes used in \a buf */
 int gsm48_generate_mid_from_imsi(uint8_t *buf, const char *imsi)
 {
-	return gsm48_generate_mid(buf, imsi, GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI);
+	struct osmo_mobile_identity mi = {
+		.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI,
+	};
+	OSMO_STRLCPY_ARRAY(mi.imsi, imsi);
+	return legacy_compat_generate_mid(buf, &mi);
 }
 
-/*! Convert TS 04.08 Mobile Identity (10.5.1.4) to string.
+/*! Deprecated, see osmo_mobile_identity instead.
+ * Convert TS 04.08 Mobile Identity (10.5.1.4) to string.
  * This function does not validate the Mobile Identity digits, i.e. digits > 9 are returned as 'A'-'F'.
  *  \param[out] string Caller-provided buffer for output
  *  \param[in] str_len Length of \a string in bytes
diff --git a/src/gsm/libosmogsm.map b/src/gsm/libosmogsm.map
index ac9aeb2..742cec3 100644
--- a/src/gsm/libosmogsm.map
+++ b/src/gsm/libosmogsm.map
@@ -363,6 +363,14 @@
 gsm48_generate_mid_from_imsi;
 gsm48_generate_mid_from_tmsi;
 gsm48_mi_to_string;
+osmo_mobile_identity_to_str_buf;
+osmo_mobile_identity_to_str_c;
+osmo_mobile_identity_cmp;
+osmo_mobile_identity_decode;
+osmo_mobile_identity_decode_from_l3;
+osmo_mobile_identity_encoded_len;
+osmo_mobile_identity_encode_buf;
+osmo_mobile_identity_encode_msgb;
 gsm48_mm_att_tlvdef;
 gsm48_number_of_paging_subchannels;
 gsm48_parse_ra;
diff --git a/src/utils.c b/src/utils.c
index 18e105f..3c4a8c9 100644
--- a/src/utils.c
+++ b/src/utils.c
@@ -175,6 +175,65 @@
 	return OSMO_MAX(0, end_nibble - start_nibble);
 }
 
+/*! Convert string to BCD.
+ * The given nibble offsets are interpreted in BCD order, i.e. nibble 0 is bcd[0] & 0x0f, nibble 1 is bcd[0] & 0xf0, nibble
+ * 3 is bcd[1] & 0x0f, etc..
+ *  \param[out] dst  Output BCD buffer.
+ *  \param[in] dst_size  sizeof() the output string buffer.
+ *  \param[in] digits  String containing decimal or hexadecimal digits in upper or lower case.
+ *  \param[in] start_nibble  Offset to start from, in nibbles, typically 1 to skip the first (MI type) nibble.
+ *  \param[in] end_nibble  Negative to write all digits found in str, followed by 0xf nibbles to fill any started octet.
+ *                         If >= 0, stop before this offset in nibbles, e.g. to get default behavior, pass
+ *                         start_nibble + strlen(str) + ((start_nibble + strlen(str)) & 1? 1 : 0) + 1.
+ *  \param[in] allow_hex  If false, return error if there are hexadecimal digits (A-F). If true, write those to
+ *                        BCD.
+ *  \returns The buffer size in octets that is used to place all bcd digits (including the skipped nibbles
+ *           from 'start_nibble' and rounded up to full octets); -EINVAL on invalid digits;
+ *           -ENOMEM if dst is NULL, if dst_size is too small to contain all nibbles, or if start_nibble is negative.
+ */
+int osmo_str2bcd(uint8_t *dst, size_t dst_size, const char *digits, int start_nibble, int end_nibble, bool allow_hex)
+{
+	const char *digit = digits;
+	int nibble_i;
+
+	if (!dst || !dst_size || start_nibble < 0)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
+	if (end_nibble < 0) {
+		end_nibble = start_nibble + strlen(digits);
+		/* If the last octet is not complete, add another filler nibble */
+		if (end_nibble & 1)
+			end_nibble++;
+	}
+	if ((end_nibble / 2) > dst_size)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
+	for (nibble_i = start_nibble; nibble_i < end_nibble; nibble_i++) {
+		uint8_t nibble = 0xf;
+		int octet = nibble_i >> 1;
+		if (*digit) {
+			char c = *digit;
+			digit++;
+			if (c >= '0' && c <= '9')
+				nibble = c - '0';
+			else if (allow_hex && c >= 'A' && c <= 'F')
+				nibble = 0xa + (c - 'A');
+			else if (allow_hex && c >= 'a' && c <= 'f')
+				nibble = 0xa + (c - 'a');
+			else
+				return -EINVAL;
+		}
+		nibble &= 0xf;
+		if ((nibble_i & 1))
+			dst[octet] = (nibble << 4) | (dst[octet] & 0x0f);
+		else
+			dst[octet] = (dst[octet] & 0xf0) | nibble;
+	}
+
+	/* floor(float(end_nibble) / 2) */
+	return end_nibble / 2;
+}
+
 /*! Parse a string containing hexadecimal digits
  *  \param[in] str string containing ASCII encoded hexadecimal digits
  *  \param[out] b output buffer
diff --git a/tests/gsm0408/gsm0408_test.c b/tests/gsm0408/gsm0408_test.c
index 9617823..a86fe11 100644
--- a/tests/gsm0408/gsm0408_test.c
+++ b/tests/gsm0408/gsm0408_test.c
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
  *
  */
 
+#pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wdeprecated-declarations"
+
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
@@ -386,8 +388,9 @@
 	{
 		.mi_type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI | GSM_MI_ODD,
 		.mi_str = "423423",
-		.mi_name = "IMSI-423423",
-		.expect_mi_tlv_hex = "1704413224f3",
+		.expect_str = "",
+		.expect_rc = 1,
+		.mi_name = "unknown",
 	},
 	{
 		.mi_type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI,
@@ -471,21 +474,21 @@
 		.mi_type = GSM_MI_TYPE_NONE,
 		.mi_str = "123",
 		.mi_name = "unknown",
-		.expect_mi_tlv_hex = "17021832", /* encoding invalid MI type */
+		.expect_mi_tlv_hex = "",
 		.expect_str = "",
 	},
 	{
 		.mi_type = GSM_MI_TYPE_NONE,
 		.mi_str = "1234",
 		.mi_name = "unknown",
-		.expect_mi_tlv_hex = "17031032f4", /* encoding invalid MI type */
+		.expect_mi_tlv_hex = "",
 		.expect_str = "",
 	},
 	{
 		.mi_type = GSM_MI_ODD,
 		.mi_str = "1234",
 		.mi_name = "unknown",
-		.expect_mi_tlv_hex = "17031032f4", /* encoding invalid MI type */
+		.expect_mi_tlv_hex = "",
 		.expect_str = "",
 	},
 };
@@ -522,9 +525,14 @@
 			printf("     ERROR: expected '%s'\n", t->expect_mi_tlv_hex);
 		}
 
-		/* skip the GSM48_IE_MOBILE_ID tag and length */
-		mi_buf = tlv_buf + 2;
-		mi_len = tlv_len - 2;
+		if (tlv_len) {
+			/* skip the GSM48_IE_MOBILE_ID tag and length */
+			mi_buf = tlv_buf + 2;
+			mi_len = tlv_len - 2;
+		} else {
+			mi_buf = NULL;
+			mi_len = 0;
+		}
 
 		rc = gsm48_mi_to_string(str, str_size, mi_buf, mi_len);
 		printf("  -> MI-str=%s rc=%d\n", osmo_quote_str(str, -1), rc);
@@ -611,6 +619,368 @@
 	printf("\n");
 }
 
+struct msgb *msgb_from_hex(const char *label, uint16_t size, const char *hex)
+{
+	struct msgb *msg = msgb_alloc_headroom(size, 4, label);
+	OSMO_ASSERT(msg);
+	msg->l3h = msgb_put(msg, osmo_hexparse(hex, msg->data, msgb_tailroom(msg)));
+	return msg;
+}
+
+struct mobile_identity_tc {
+	const char *label;
+	const char *compl_l3_msg;
+	int expect_rc;
+	struct osmo_mobile_identity expect_mi;
+};
+
+/* Some Complete Layer 3 messages copied from real GSM network traces. */
+struct mobile_identity_tc mobile_identity_tests[] = {
+	{
+		.label = "LU with IMSI 901700000004620",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "050802008168000130" "089910070000006402",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI,
+			.imsi = "901700000004620",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "LU with TMSI 0x0980ad8a",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "05084262f224002a50" "05f40980ad8a",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_TMSI,
+			.tmsi = 0x0980ad8a,
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "LU with invalid MI type",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "050802008168000130" "089d10070000006402",
+		.expect_rc = -EINVAL,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "LU with truncated IMSI MI",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "050802008168000130" "0899100700000064",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "LU with too short IMSI MI (12345)",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "050802008168000130" "03193254",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "LU with just long enough IMSI MI 123456",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "050802008168000130" "04113254f6",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI,
+			.imsi = "123456",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "LU with max length IMSI MI 123456789012345",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "050802008168000130" "081932547698103254",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI,
+			.imsi = "123456789012345",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "LU with just too long IMSI MI 1234567890123456",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "050802008168000130" "091132547698103254f6",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "LU with truncated TMSI MI",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "05084262f224002a50" "05f40980ad",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "LU with odd length TMSI",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "05084262f224002a50" "05fc0980ad8a",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "LU with too long TMSI MI",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "05084262f224002a50" "06f40980ad23",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "LU with too short TMSI",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "05084262f224002a50" "04f480ad8a",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "CM Service Request with IMSI 123456",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "052401035058a6" "04113254f6",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI,
+			.imsi = "123456",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "CM Service Request with TMSI 0x5a42e404",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "052401035058a6" "05f45a42e404",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_TMSI,
+			.tmsi = 0x5a42e404,
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "CM Service Request with shorter CM2, with IMSI 123456",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "052401025058" "04113254f6",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI,
+			.imsi = "123456",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "CM Service Request with longer CM2, with IMSI 123456",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "052401055058a62342" "04113254f6",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI,
+			.imsi = "123456",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "CM Service Request with shorter CM2, with TMSI 0x00000000",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "052401025058" "05f400000000",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_TMSI,
+			.tmsi = 0,
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "CM Service Request with invalid MI type",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "052401035058a6" "089d10070000006402",
+		.expect_rc = -EINVAL,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "CM Service Request with truncated IMSI MI",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "052401035058a6" "0899100700000064",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "CM Service Request with truncated TMSI MI",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "0524010150" "05f40980ad",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "CM Service Request with odd length TMSI",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "052401045058a623" "05fc0980ad8a",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "CM Service Request with too long TMSI MI",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "052401035058a6" "06f40980ad23",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "CM Service Request with too short TMSI",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "052401035058a6" "04f480ad8a",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "CM Service Reestablish Request with TMSI 0x5a42e404",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "052801035058a6" "05f45a42e404",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_TMSI,
+			.tmsi = 0x5a42e404,
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "Paging Response with IMSI 1234567",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "06270003505886" "0419325476",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI,
+			.imsi = "1234567",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "Paging Response with TMSI 0xb48883de",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "06270003505886" "05f4b48883de",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_TMSI,
+			.tmsi = 0xb48883de,
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "Paging Response with TMSI, with unused nibble not 0xf",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "06270003505886" "0504b48883de",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "Paging Response with too short IMEI (1234567)",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "06270003505886" "041a325476",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "Paging Response with IMEI 123456789012345",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "06270003505886" "081a32547698103254",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEI,
+			.imei = "123456789012345",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "Paging Response with IMEI 12345678901234 (no Luhn checksum)",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "06270003505886" "0812325476981032f4",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEI,
+			.imei = "12345678901234",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "Paging Response with IMEISV 1234567890123456",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "06270003505886" "091332547698103254f6",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEISV,
+			.imeisv = "1234567890123456",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "Paging Response with too short IMEISV 123456789012345",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "06270003505886" "081b32547698103254",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "Paging Response with too long IMEISV 12345678901234567",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "06270003505886" "091b3254769810325476",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "Paging Response with IMSI 123456789012345 and flipped ODD bit",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "06270003505886" "081132547698103254",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "IMSI-Detach with IMSI 901700000004620",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "050130" "089910070000006402",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI,
+			.imsi = "901700000004620",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "IMSI-Detach with TMSI 0x0980ad8a",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "050130" "05f40980ad8a",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_TMSI,
+			.tmsi = 0x0980ad8a,
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "IMSI-Detach with invalid MI type",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "050130" "089d10070000006402",
+		.expect_rc = -EINVAL,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "IMSI-Detach with truncated IMSI MI",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "050130" "0899100700000064",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "IMSI-Detach with too short IMSI MI (12345)",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "050130" "03193254",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "IMSI-Detach with just long enough IMSI MI 123456",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "050130" "04113254f6",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI,
+			.imsi = "123456",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "IMSI-Detach with max length IMSI MI 123456789012345",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "050130" "081932547698103254",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI,
+			.imsi = "123456789012345",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "IMSI-Detach with just too long IMSI MI 1234567890123456",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "050130" "091132547698103254f6",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "IMSI-Detach with truncated TMSI MI",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "050130" "05f40980ad",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "IMSI-Detach with odd length TMSI",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "050130" "05fc0980ad8a",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "IMSI-Detach with too long TMSI MI",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "050130" "06f40980ad23",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "IMSI-Detach with too short TMSI",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "050130" "04f480ad8a",
+		.expect_rc = -EBADMSG,
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "Identity Response with IMSI 901700000004620",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "0519" "089910070000006402",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMSI,
+			.imsi = "901700000004620",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "Identity Response with IMEI 123456789012345",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "0519" "081a32547698103254",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEI,
+			.imei = "123456789012345",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		.label = "Identity Response with IMEISV 9876543210987654",
+		.compl_l3_msg = "0519" "099378563412907856f4",
+		.expect_mi = {
+			.type = GSM_MI_TYPE_IMEISV,
+			.imeisv = "9876543210987654",
+		},
+	},
+};
+
+void test_struct_mobile_identity()
+{
+	struct mobile_identity_tc *t;
+	printf("%s()\n", __func__);
+	for (t = mobile_identity_tests; (t - mobile_identity_tests) < ARRAY_SIZE(mobile_identity_tests); t++) {
+		struct osmo_mobile_identity mi;
+		struct msgb *msg;
+		int rc;
+		memset(&mi, 0xff, sizeof(mi));
+
+		msg = msgb_from_hex(t->label, 1024, t->compl_l3_msg);
+		rc = osmo_mobile_identity_decode_from_l3(&mi, msg, false);
+		msgb_free(msg);
+
+		printf("%s: rc = %d", t->label, rc);
+		if (!rc) {
+			printf(", mi = %s", osmo_mobile_identity_to_str_c(OTC_SELECT, &mi));
+		}
+
+		if (rc == t->expect_rc
+		    && ((rc != 0) || !osmo_mobile_identity_cmp(&mi, &t->expect_mi))) {
+			printf(" ok");
+		} else {
+			printf("  ERROR: Expected rc = %d", t->expect_rc);
+			if (!t->expect_rc)
+				printf(", mi = %s", osmo_mobile_identity_to_str_c(OTC_SELECT, &t->expect_mi));
+		}
+		printf("\n");
+	}
+	printf("\n");
+}
+
 static const struct bcd_number_test {
 	/* Human-readable test name */
 	const char *test_name;
@@ -1182,6 +1552,7 @@
 	test_mid_from_imsi();
 	test_mid_encode_decode();
 	test_mid_decode_zero_length();
+	test_struct_mobile_identity();
 	test_bcd_number_encode_decode();
 	test_ra_cap();
 	test_lai_encode_decode();
diff --git a/tests/gsm0408/gsm0408_test.ok b/tests/gsm0408/gsm0408_test.ok
index d343869..f8de54a 100644
--- a/tests/gsm0408/gsm0408_test.ok
+++ b/tests/gsm0408/gsm0408_test.ok
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@
   -> MI-str="423423" rc=7
   -> MI-name="IMSI-423423"
 - unknown 0x9 423423
-  -> MI-TLV-hex='1704413224f3'
-  -> MI-str="423423" rc=7
-  -> MI-name="IMSI-423423"
+  -> MI-TLV-hex=''
+  -> MI-str="" rc=1
+  -> MI-name="unknown"
 - IMSI 4234235
   -> MI-TLV-hex='170449322453'
   -> MI-str="4234235" rc=8
@@ -65,15 +65,15 @@
   -> MI-str="3054" rc=9
   -> MI-name="TMSI-0x12345678"
 - NONE 123
-  -> MI-TLV-hex='17021832'
+  -> MI-TLV-hex=''
   -> MI-str="" rc=1
   -> MI-name="unknown"
 - NONE 1234
-  -> MI-TLV-hex='17031032f4'
+  -> MI-TLV-hex=''
   -> MI-str="" rc=1
   -> MI-name="unknown"
 - unknown 0x8 1234
-  -> MI-TLV-hex='17031032f4'
+  -> MI-TLV-hex=''
   -> MI-str="" rc=1
   -> MI-name="unknown"
 
@@ -139,6 +139,57 @@
     rc=1
     returned empty string
 
+test_struct_mobile_identity()
+LU with IMSI 901700000004620: rc = 0, mi = IMSI-901700000004620 ok
+LU with TMSI 0x0980ad8a: rc = 0, mi = TMSI-0x0980AD8A ok
+LU with invalid MI type: rc = -22 ok
+LU with truncated IMSI MI: rc = -74 ok
+LU with too short IMSI MI (12345): rc = -74 ok
+LU with just long enough IMSI MI 123456: rc = 0, mi = IMSI-123456 ok
+LU with max length IMSI MI 123456789012345: rc = 0, mi = IMSI-123456789012345 ok
+LU with just too long IMSI MI 1234567890123456: rc = -74 ok
+LU with truncated TMSI MI: rc = -74 ok
+LU with odd length TMSI: rc = -74 ok
+LU with too long TMSI MI: rc = -74 ok
+LU with too short TMSI: rc = -74 ok
+CM Service Request with IMSI 123456: rc = 0, mi = IMSI-123456 ok
+CM Service Request with TMSI 0x5a42e404: rc = 0, mi = TMSI-0x5A42E404 ok
+CM Service Request with shorter CM2, with IMSI 123456: rc = 0, mi = IMSI-123456 ok
+CM Service Request with longer CM2, with IMSI 123456: rc = 0, mi = IMSI-123456 ok
+CM Service Request with shorter CM2, with TMSI 0x00000000: rc = 0, mi = TMSI-0x00000000 ok
+CM Service Request with invalid MI type: rc = -22 ok
+CM Service Request with truncated IMSI MI: rc = -74 ok
+CM Service Request with truncated TMSI MI: rc = -74 ok
+CM Service Request with odd length TMSI: rc = -74 ok
+CM Service Request with too long TMSI MI: rc = -74 ok
+CM Service Request with too short TMSI: rc = -74 ok
+CM Service Reestablish Request with TMSI 0x5a42e404: rc = 0, mi = TMSI-0x5A42E404 ok
+Paging Response with IMSI 1234567: rc = 0, mi = IMSI-1234567 ok
+Paging Response with TMSI 0xb48883de: rc = 0, mi = TMSI-0xB48883DE ok
+Paging Response with TMSI, with unused nibble not 0xf: rc = -74 ok
+Paging Response with too short IMEI (1234567): rc = -74 ok
+Paging Response with IMEI 123456789012345: rc = 0, mi = IMEI-123456789012345 ok
+Paging Response with IMEI 12345678901234 (no Luhn checksum): rc = 0, mi = IMEI-12345678901234 ok
+Paging Response with IMEISV 1234567890123456: rc = 0, mi = IMEI-SV-1234567890123456 ok
+Paging Response with too short IMEISV 123456789012345: rc = -74 ok
+Paging Response with too long IMEISV 12345678901234567: rc = -74 ok
+Paging Response with IMSI 123456789012345 and flipped ODD bit: rc = -74 ok
+IMSI-Detach with IMSI 901700000004620: rc = 0, mi = IMSI-901700000004620 ok
+IMSI-Detach with TMSI 0x0980ad8a: rc = 0, mi = TMSI-0x0980AD8A ok
+IMSI-Detach with invalid MI type: rc = -22 ok
+IMSI-Detach with truncated IMSI MI: rc = -74 ok
+IMSI-Detach with too short IMSI MI (12345): rc = -74 ok
+IMSI-Detach with just long enough IMSI MI 123456: rc = 0, mi = IMSI-123456 ok
+IMSI-Detach with max length IMSI MI 123456789012345: rc = 0, mi = IMSI-123456789012345 ok
+IMSI-Detach with just too long IMSI MI 1234567890123456: rc = -74 ok
+IMSI-Detach with truncated TMSI MI: rc = -74 ok
+IMSI-Detach with odd length TMSI: rc = -74 ok
+IMSI-Detach with too long TMSI MI: rc = -74 ok
+IMSI-Detach with too short TMSI: rc = -74 ok
+Identity Response with IMSI 901700000004620: rc = 0, mi = IMSI-901700000004620 ok
+Identity Response with IMEI 123456789012345: rc = 0, mi = IMEI-123456789012345 ok
+Identity Response with IMEISV 9876543210987654: rc = 0, mi = IMEI-SV-9876543210987654 ok
+
 BSD number encoding / decoding test
 - Running test: regular 9-digit MSISDN
   - Encoding ASCII (buffer limit=0) '123456789'...
diff --git a/tests/utils/utils_test.c b/tests/utils/utils_test.c
index e87cb22..e15cf5f 100644
--- a/tests/utils/utils_test.c
+++ b/tests/utils/utils_test.c
@@ -487,6 +487,7 @@
 {
 	int i;
 	uint8_t bcd[64];
+	uint8_t bcd2[64];
 	int rc;
 
 	printf("\nTesting bcd to string conversion\n");
@@ -511,6 +512,12 @@
 			printf("    ERROR: expected rc=%d\n", t->expect_rc);
 		if (strcmp(str, t->expect_str))
 			printf("    ERROR: expected result %s\n", osmo_quote_str(t->expect_str, -1));
+
+		memset(bcd2, 0xff, sizeof(bcd2));
+		rc = osmo_str2bcd(bcd2, sizeof(bcd2), str, t->start_nibble, -1, t->allow_hex);
+		printf("osmo_str2bcd(start_nibble=%d) -> rc=%d\n", t->start_nibble, rc);
+		if (rc > 0)
+			printf(" = %s\n", osmo_hexdump(bcd2, rc));
 	}
 
 	printf("- zero output buffer\n");
diff --git a/tests/utils/utils_test.ok b/tests/utils/utils_test.ok
index baa708e..cbab72a 100644
--- a/tests/utils/utils_test.ok
+++ b/tests/utils/utils_test.ok
@@ -181,27 +181,41 @@
 - BCD-input='1a 32 54 76 98 f0' nibbles=[1..11[ str_size=64
   rc=10
   -> "1234567890"
+osmo_str2bcd(start_nibble=1) -> rc=6
+ = 1f 32 54 76 98 f0 
 - BCD-input='1a 32 a4 cb 9d f0' nibbles=[1..11[ str_size=64
   rc=-22
   -> "1234ABCD90"
+osmo_str2bcd(start_nibble=1) -> rc=-22
 - BCD-input='1a 32 a4 cb 9d f0' nibbles=[1..11[ str_size=64
   rc=10
   -> "1234ABCD90"
+osmo_str2bcd(start_nibble=1) -> rc=6
+ = 1f 32 a4 cb 9d f0 
 - BCD-input='1a 32 54 76 98 f0' nibbles=[1..12[ str_size=64
   rc=-22
   -> "1234567890F"
+osmo_str2bcd(start_nibble=1) -> rc=-22
 - BCD-input='1a 32 54 76 98 f0' nibbles=[1..12[ str_size=64
   rc=11
   -> "1234567890F"
+osmo_str2bcd(start_nibble=1) -> rc=6
+ = 1f 32 54 76 98 f0 
 - BCD-input='1a 32 54 76 98 f0' nibbles=[0..12[ str_size=64
   rc=12
   -> "A1234567890F"
+osmo_str2bcd(start_nibble=0) -> rc=6
+ = 1a 32 54 76 98 f0 
 - BCD-input='1a 32 54 76 98 f0' nibbles=[1..12[ str_size=5
   rc=11
   -> "1234"
+osmo_str2bcd(start_nibble=1) -> rc=3
+ = 1f 32 f4 
 - BCD-input='' nibbles=[1..1[ str_size=64
   rc=0
   -> ""
+osmo_str2bcd(start_nibble=1) -> rc=1
+ = ff 
 - zero output buffer
   bcd2str(NULL, ...) -> -12
   bcd2str(dst, 0, ...) -> -12