diff --git a/src/libmsc/gsm_04_08.c b/src/libmsc/gsm_04_08.c
index 075ef0f..b5d46fd 100644
--- a/src/libmsc/gsm_04_08.c
+++ b/src/libmsc/gsm_04_08.c
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@
 				net->vlr, msc_a, vlr_lu_type, tmsi, imsi,
 				&old_lai, &msc_a->via_cell.lai,
 				is_utran || net->authentication_required,
-				is_utran ? net->uea_encryption_mask > (1 << OSMO_UTRAN_UEA0) : net->a5_encryption_mask > 0x01,
+				msc_a_require_ciphering(msc_a),
 				lu->key_seq,
 				osmo_gsm48_classmark1_is_r99(&lu->classmark1),
 				is_utran,
@@ -806,7 +806,7 @@
 			 req->cm_service_type,
 			 &mi, &msc_a->via_cell.lai,
 			 is_utran || net->authentication_required,
-			 is_utran ? net->uea_encryption_mask > (1 << OSMO_UTRAN_UEA0) : net->a5_encryption_mask > 0x01,
+			 msc_a_require_ciphering(msc_a),
 			 req->cipher_key_seq,
 			 osmo_gsm48_classmark2_is_r99(cm2, cm2_len),
 			 is_utran);
@@ -932,7 +932,7 @@
 			 VLR_PR_ARQ_T_CM_RE_ESTABLISH_REQ, 0,
 			 &mi, &msc_a->via_cell.lai,
 			 is_utran || net->authentication_required,
-			 is_utran ? net->uea_encryption_mask > (1 << OSMO_UTRAN_UEA0) : net->a5_encryption_mask > 0x01,
+			 msc_a_require_ciphering(msc_a),
 			 req->cipher_key_seq,
 			 osmo_gsm48_classmark2_is_r99(cm2, cm2_len),
 			 is_utran);
@@ -1294,7 +1294,7 @@
 			 net->vlr, msc_a,
 			 VLR_PR_ARQ_T_PAGING_RESP, 0, &mi, &msc_a->via_cell.lai,
 			 is_utran || net->authentication_required,
-			 is_utran ? net->uea_encryption_mask > (1 << OSMO_UTRAN_UEA0) : net->a5_encryption_mask > 0x01,
+			 msc_a_require_ciphering(msc_a),
 			 pr->key_seq,
 			 osmo_gsm48_classmark2_is_r99(cm2, classmark2_len),
 			 is_utran);
diff --git a/src/libmsc/msc_a.c b/src/libmsc/msc_a.c
index 583f9e7..74721d2 100644
--- a/src/libmsc/msc_a.c
+++ b/src/libmsc/msc_a.c
@@ -106,6 +106,16 @@
 	return fi->priv;
 }
 
+bool msc_a_require_ciphering(const struct msc_a *msc_a)
+{
+	struct gsm_network *net = msc_a_net(msc_a);
+	bool is_utran = (msc_a->c.ran->type == OSMO_RAT_UTRAN_IU);
+	if (is_utran)
+		return net->uea_encryption_mask > (1 << OSMO_UTRAN_UEA0);
+	else
+		return net->a5_encryption_mask > 0x1;
+}
+
 static void update_counters(struct osmo_fsm_inst *fi, bool conn_accepted)
 {
 	struct msc_a *msc_a = fi->priv;