A radio network controller (RNC) receives a request to activate a packet data protocol (PDP) context for a wireless device operating in a forward access channel state. The RNC sends the request to activate PDP context to a core network node (CN). The RNC receives a request to assign a radio access bearer from the CN. The RNC sends a response to the request to assign a radio access bearer to the CN and initiates a timer. If the CN accepts the request to activate the PDP context prior to timer expiry, the RNC stops the timer and sends the wireless device the accept message followed by a request to reconfigure a radio bearer. Otherwise, if the timer expires, the RNC sends the wireless device the request to reconfigure the radio bearer followed by the accept message.