diff --git a/cmake_targets/build_oai b/cmake_targets/build_oai
index e1361295dfde1a4192649667f99edc418d2a023b..89090d90c544a921200e74db2503649699daf146 100755
--- a/cmake_targets/build_oai
+++ b/cmake_targets/build_oai
@@ -33,6 +33,13 @@ ORIGIN_PATH=$PWD
 THIS_SCRIPT_PATH=$(dirname $(readlink -f $0))
 source $THIS_SCRIPT_PATH/tools/build_helper
 
+# set environment variables (OPENAIR_HOME, ...)
+set_openair_env
+
+#variables for UE data generation
+gen_nvram_path=$OPENAIR_DIR/targets/bin
+conf_nvram_path=$OPENAIR_DIR/openair3/NAS/TOOLS/ue_eurecom_test_sfr.conf
+
 MSC_GEN="False"
 XFORMS="True"
 FLEXRAN_AGENT_SB_IF="True"
@@ -388,12 +395,8 @@ function main() {
 
   echo_info "2. Setting the OAI PATHS ..."
 
-  set_openair_env
   cecho "OPENAIR_DIR    = $OPENAIR_DIR" $green
 
-  gen_nvram_path=$OPENAIR_DIR/targets/bin
-  conf_nvram_path=$OPENAIR_DIR/openair3/NAS/TOOLS/ue_eurecom_test_sfr.conf
-
   # for conf files copy in this bash script
   if [ -d /usr/lib/freeDiameter ]; then
     export FREEDIAMETER_PREFIX=/usr