diff --git a/lib/include/srsran/interfaces/enb_mac_interfaces.h b/lib/include/srsran/interfaces/enb_mac_interfaces.h
index 802312610..af9838515 100644
--- a/lib/include/srsran/interfaces/enb_mac_interfaces.h
+++ b/lib/include/srsran/interfaces/enb_mac_interfaces.h
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@
 namespace srsenb {
 
 struct mac_args_t {
-  uint32_t                      nof_prb; ///< Needed to dimension MAC softbuffers for all cells
+  uint32_t                      nof_prb;  ///< Needed to dimension MAC softbuffers for all cells
+  uint32_t                      prach_bi; ///< Backoff Indicator to prevent UE from PRACHing too fast
   sched_interface::sched_args_t sched;
   int                           lcid_padding;
   uint32_t                      nof_prealloc_ues; ///< Number of UE resources to pre-allocate at eNB startup
diff --git a/srsenb/enb.conf.example b/srsenb/enb.conf.example
index 505771a05..fe830507b 100644
--- a/srsenb/enb.conf.example
+++ b/srsenb/enb.conf.example
@@ -424,3 +424,4 @@ nr_pdsch_mcs=28
 #rlf_min_ul_snr_estim = -2
 #s1_setup_max_retries = -1
 #rx_gain_offset = 62
+#mac_prach_bi         = 0
diff --git a/srsenb/src/main.cc b/srsenb/src/main.cc
index 33d739088..71721b4c0 100644
--- a/srsenb/src/main.cc
+++ b/srsenb/src/main.cc
@@ -260,6 +260,7 @@ void parse_args(all_args_t* args, int argc, char* argv[])
     ("expert.rlf_min_ul_snr_estim", bpo::value<int>(&args->stack.mac.rlf_min_ul_snr_estim)->default_value(-2), "SNR threshold in dB below which the eNB is notified with rlf ko.")
     ("expert.max_s1_setup_retries", bpo::value<int32_t>(&args->stack.s1ap.max_s1_setup_retries)->default_value(-1), "Max S1 setup retries")
     ("expert.rx_gain_offset", bpo::value<float>(&args->phy.rx_gain_offset)->default_value(62), "RX Gain offset to add to rx_gain to calibrate RSRP readings")
+    ("expert.mac_prach_bi", bpo::value<uint32_t>(&args->stack.mac.prach_bi)->default_value(0), "Backoff Indicator to reduce contention in the PRACH channel")
 
     // eMBMS section
     ("embms.enable", bpo::value<bool>(&args->stack.embms.enable)->default_value(false), "Enables MBMS in the eNB")
diff --git a/srsenb/src/stack/mac/mac.cc b/srsenb/src/stack/mac/mac.cc
index e56f0e879..17e036880 100644
--- a/srsenb/src/stack/mac/mac.cc
+++ b/srsenb/src/stack/mac/mac.cc
@@ -924,6 +924,9 @@ uint8_t* mac::assemble_rar(sched_interface::dl_sched_rar_grant_t* grants,
     srsran::rar_pdu* pdu = &rar_pdu_msg[rar_idx];
     rar_payload[enb_cc_idx][rar_idx].clear();
     pdu->init_tx(&rar_payload[enb_cc_idx][rar_idx], pdu_len);
+    if (args.prach_bi > 0 and args.prach_bi <= 12) {
+      pdu->set_backoff(args.prach_bi);
+    }
     for (uint32_t i = 0; i < nof_grants; i++) {
       srsran_dci_rar_pack(&grants[i].grant, grant_buffer);
       if (pdu->new_subh()) {