Exemplary embodiments include methods performed by a central unit, CU, of a base station, for selecting a special cell, SpCell, to be used by a first distributed unit, DU, of the base station for serving a user equipment, UE. Such embodiments can include sending, to the first DU, a first request comprising an identity of a first cell, served by the first DU, as a preferred SpCell for the UE; and identities of one or more second cells served by the first DU. Such embodiments can also include receiving, from the first DU, a first response comprising a first indication that the first DU cannot configure the first cell as an SpCell for the UE, and a second indication that the first DU can configure zero or more third cells as an SpCell for the UE.