diff --git a/include/osmocom/ranap/iu_client.h b/include/osmocom/ranap/iu_client.h
index 873b2d2..0cb84da 100644
--- a/include/osmocom/ranap/iu_client.h
+++ b/include/osmocom/ranap/iu_client.h
@@ -70,5 +70,9 @@
 int ranap_iu_tx_common_id(struct ranap_ue_conn_ctx *ue_ctx, const char *imsi);
 int ranap_iu_tx_release(struct ranap_ue_conn_ctx *ctx, const struct RANAP_Cause *cause);
 
+/* freeing the UE will release all resources
+ * This will close the SCCP connection connected to the UE */
+void ranap_iu_free_ue(struct ranap_ue_conn_ctx *ue_ctx);
+
 void ranap_iu_vty_init(int iu_parent_node, enum ranap_nsap_addr_enc *rab_assign_addr_enc);
 int ranap_iu_vty_config_write(struct vty *vty, const char *indent);
diff --git a/src/iu_client.c b/src/iu_client.c
index ce06f8a..c7ed341 100644
--- a/src/iu_client.c
+++ b/src/iu_client.c
@@ -131,6 +131,16 @@
 	return NULL;
 }
 
+void ranap_iu_free_ue(struct ranap_ue_conn_ctx *ue_ctx)
+{
+	if (!ue_ctx)
+		return;
+
+	osmo_sccp_tx_disconn(g_scu, ue_ctx->conn_id, NULL, 0);
+	llist_del(&ue_ctx->list);
+	talloc_free(ue_ctx);
+}
+
 static struct ranap_iu_rnc *iu_rnc_alloc(uint16_t rnc_id, struct osmo_sccp_addr *addr)
 {
 	struct ranap_iu_rnc *rnc = talloc_zero(talloc_iu_ctx, struct ranap_iu_rnc);