A method and apparatus can be configured to determine whether a backend system is unreachable by a gateway. The method also includes establishing a temporary session between the gateway and a user equipment. The user equipment does not attempt to further re-establish another session with the gateway after the temporary session is established. The temporary session is configurable by an operator. The method also includes ending the temporary session between the gateway and the user equipment. Ending the temporary session allows the user equipment to attempt to re-establish another session with the gateway.