diff --git a/openbsc/src/gsm_04_08.c b/openbsc/src/gsm_04_08.c
index 21bdfc5..2b502b4 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/gsm_04_08.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/gsm_04_08.c
@@ -309,23 +309,23 @@
 int gsm0408_loc_upd_rej(struct gsm_subscriber_connection *conn, u_int8_t cause)
 {
 	struct gsm_bts *bts = conn->bts;
-	struct msgb *msg = gsm48_msgb_alloc();
-	struct gsm48_hdr *gh;
+	struct msgb *msg;
+
+	counter_inc(bts->network->stats.loc_upd_resp.reject);
+
+	msg = gsm48_create_loc_upd_rej(cause);
+	if (!msg) {
+		LOGP(DMM, LOGL_ERROR, "Failed to create msg for LOCATION UPDATING REJECT.\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
 	
 	msg->lchan = conn->lchan;
 
-	gh = (struct gsm48_hdr *) msgb_put(msg, sizeof(*gh) + 1);
-	gh->proto_discr = GSM48_PDISC_MM;
-	gh->msg_type = GSM48_MT_MM_LOC_UPD_REJECT;
-	gh->data[0] = cause;
-
 	LOGP(DMM, LOGL_INFO, "Subscriber %s: LOCATION UPDATING REJECT "
 	     "LAC=%u BTS=%u\n", conn->subscr ?
 	     			subscr_name(conn->subscr) : "unknown",
 	     bts->location_area_code, bts->nr);
 
-	counter_inc(bts->network->stats.loc_upd_resp.reject);
-	
 	return gsm48_conn_sendmsg(msg, conn, NULL);
 }
 
diff --git a/openbsc/src/gsm_04_08_utils.c b/openbsc/src/gsm_04_08_utils.c
index eb8c034..952d724 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/gsm_04_08_utils.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/gsm_04_08_utils.c
@@ -581,3 +581,19 @@
 
 	return msg;
 }
+
+struct msgb *gsm48_create_loc_upd_rej(uint8_t cause)
+{
+	struct gsm48_hdr *gh;
+	struct msgb *msg;
+
+	msg = gsm48_msgb_alloc();
+	if (!msg)
+		return NULL;
+
+	gh = (struct gsm48_hdr *) msgb_put(msg, sizeof(*gh) + 1);
+	gh->proto_discr = GSM48_PDISC_MM;
+	gh->msg_type = GSM48_MT_MM_LOC_UPD_REJECT;
+	gh->data[0] = cause;
+	return msg;
+}