diff --git a/cbc/CBC_Tests.ttcn b/cbc/CBC_Tests.ttcn
index 8e7e1c5..64cf5e2 100644
--- a/cbc/CBC_Tests.ttcn
+++ b/cbc/CBC_Tests.ttcn
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 const integer MAX_MME := 3;
 
 type component test_CT extends CBSP_Adapter_CT, http_CT {
+	timer g_Tguard := 60.0;
 	var integer g_num_bsc;
 	var integer g_num_mme;
 	var BSC_ConnHdlr g_vc_conn_BSC[MAX_BSC];
@@ -68,6 +69,15 @@
 	mtc.stop;
 }
 
+/* altstep for the global guard timer */
+private altstep as_Tguard() runs on test_CT {
+	[] g_Tguard.timeout {
+		setverdict(fail, "Tguard timeout");
+		all component.stop;
+		mtc.stop;
+	}
+}
+
 /*
  * BSC Conn Handler:
  */
@@ -151,7 +161,11 @@
 	}
 }
 
-function f_start() runs on test_CT {
+function f_start(float t_guard := 60.0) runs on test_CT {
+	/* Start guard timer and activate it as default */
+	g_Tguard.start(t_guard);
+	activate(as_Tguard());
+
 	for (var integer i := 0; i < g_num_bsc; i := i + 1) {
 		f_start_bsc(i, testcasename(), g_pars_BSC[i]);
 	}
@@ -195,7 +209,7 @@
 testcase TC_rx_keepalive_timeout() runs on test_CT {
 	f_init(num_bsc := 1);
 	g_pars_BSC[0].start_fn := refers(f_bsc_TC_rx_keepalive_timeout);
-	f_start();
+	f_start(t_guard := 100.0);
 	f_shutdown_helper();
 }