diff --git a/srsue/src/phy/sync.cc b/srsue/src/phy/sync.cc
index 80e60fdc5..a21e4b8c0 100644
--- a/srsue/src/phy/sync.cc
+++ b/srsue/src/phy/sync.cc
@@ -391,7 +391,9 @@ void sync::run_thread()
          * The function search_p.run() will not return until the search finishes
          */
         cell_search_ret = search_p.run(&cell, mib);
-        stack->bch_decoded_ok(mib.data(), mib.size() / 8);
+        if (cell_search_ret == search::CELL_FOUND) {
+          stack->bch_decoded_ok(mib.data(), mib.size() / 8);
+        }
         phy_state.state_exit();
         break;
       case sync_state::SFN_SYNC: