diff --git a/bsc/BSC_Tests_LCLS.ttcn b/bsc/BSC_Tests_LCLS.ttcn
index 42feb57..fd37b4b 100644
--- a/bsc/BSC_Tests_LCLS.ttcn
+++ b/bsc/BSC_Tests_LCLS.ttcn
@@ -151,6 +151,21 @@
 	fn.apply(id);
 }
 
+/* helper function to create and connect a MSC_ConnHdlr component */
+/* FIXME: Why can't we use BSC_Tests.f_connect_andler() ?!? */
+private function f_connect_handler(inout LCLS_MSC_ConnHdlr vc_conn) runs on lcls_test_CT {
+	connect(vc_conn:BSSMAPEM, g_bssap.vc_BSSMAP:PROC);
+	connect(vc_conn:MGCP_PROC, vc_MGCP:MGCP_PROC);
+	connect(vc_conn:RSL, bts[0].rsl.vc_RSL:CLIENT_PT);
+	connect(vc_conn:RSL_PROC, bts[0].rsl.vc_RSL:RSL_PROC);
+	if (isvalue(bts[1])) {
+		connect(vc_conn:RSL1, bts[1].rsl.vc_RSL:CLIENT_PT);
+		connect(vc_conn:RSL1_PROC, bts[1].rsl.vc_RSL:RSL_PROC);
+	}
+	connect(vc_conn:BSSAP, g_bssap.vc_BSSMAP:CLIENT);
+	connect(vc_conn:MGCP, vc_MGCP:MGCP_CLIENT);
+}
+
 /* function creating the two ConnHdlrs, connecting them + starting them */
 private function f_lcls_test_init(TestHdlrParams pars_a, TestHdlrParams pars_b) runs on lcls_test_CT {
 	var charstring id_a := testcasename() & "-A";