diff --git a/src/libmsc/gsm_04_08.c b/src/libmsc/gsm_04_08.c
index 980f6689d..4baf99642 100644
--- a/src/libmsc/gsm_04_08.c
+++ b/src/libmsc/gsm_04_08.c
@@ -290,8 +290,8 @@ static int mm_tx_identity_req(struct ran_conn *conn, uint8_t id_type)
 static int mm_rx_id_resp(struct ran_conn *conn, struct msgb *msg)
 {
 	struct gsm48_hdr *gh = msgb_l3(msg);
-	uint8_t mi_type = gh->data[1] & GSM_MI_TYPE_MASK;
-	char mi_string[GSM48_MI_SIZE];
+	uint8_t *mi = gh->data+1;
+	uint8_t mi_len = gh->data[0];
 
 	if (!conn->vsub) {
 		LOGP(DMM, LOGL_ERROR,
@@ -299,13 +299,11 @@ static int mm_rx_id_resp(struct ran_conn *conn, struct msgb *msg)
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
-	gsm48_mi_to_string(mi_string, sizeof(mi_string), &gh->data[1], gh->data[0]);
-	DEBUGP(DMM, "IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI(%s)=%s\n",
-		gsm48_mi_type_name(mi_type), mi_string);
+	DEBUGP(DMM, "IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI=%s\n", osmo_mi_name(mi, mi_len));
 
 	osmo_signal_dispatch(SS_SUBSCR, S_SUBSCR_IDENTITY, gh->data);
 
-	return vlr_subscr_rx_id_resp(conn->vsub, gh->data+1, gh->data[0]);
+	return vlr_subscr_rx_id_resp(conn->vsub, mi, mi_len);
 }
 
 /* Chapter 9.2.15: Receive Location Updating Request.
diff --git a/tests/msc_vlr/msc_vlr_test_gsm_authen.err b/tests/msc_vlr/msc_vlr_test_gsm_authen.err
index afa9d975f..fddfe07b1 100644
--- a/tests/msc_vlr/msc_vlr_test_gsm_authen.err
+++ b/tests/msc_vlr/msc_vlr_test_gsm_authen.err
@@ -1258,7 +1258,7 @@ DRLL subscr IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071: Message not permitted for initial
   MSC <--GERAN-A-- MS: GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP
 DREF IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071: MSC conn use + dtap == 1 (0x2: dtap)
 DRLL Dispatching 04.08 message GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP (0x5:0x19)
-DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI(IMEI)=423423423423420
+DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI=IMEI-423423423423420
 DVLR set IMEI on subscriber; IMSI=901700000004620 IMEI=423423423423420
 DVLR vlr_lu_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071:GERAN-A-0:LU){VLR_ULA_S_WAIT_LU_COMPL}: Received Event VLR_ULA_E_ID_IMEI
 DVLR lu_compl_vlr_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071:GERAN-A-0:LU){LU_COMPL_VLR_S_WAIT_IMEI}: Received Event LU_COMPL_VLR_E_IMEI_CHECK_ACK
@@ -1489,7 +1489,7 @@ DRLL subscr IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071: Message not permitted for initial
   MSC <--GERAN-A-- MS: GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP
 DREF IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071: MSC conn use + dtap == 1 (0x2: dtap)
 DRLL Dispatching 04.08 message GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP (0x5:0x19)
-DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI(IMEI)=423423423423420
+DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI=IMEI-423423423423420
 DVLR set IMEI on subscriber; IMSI=901700000004620 IMEI=423423423423420
 DVLR vlr_lu_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071:GERAN-A-0:LU){VLR_ULA_S_WAIT_LU_COMPL}: Received Event VLR_ULA_E_ID_IMEI
 DVLR lu_compl_vlr_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071:GERAN-A-0:LU){LU_COMPL_VLR_S_WAIT_IMEI_TMSI}: Received Event LU_COMPL_VLR_E_IMEI_CHECK_ACK
diff --git a/tests/msc_vlr/msc_vlr_test_gsm_ciph.err b/tests/msc_vlr/msc_vlr_test_gsm_ciph.err
index 611d62aab..65e182c44 100644
--- a/tests/msc_vlr/msc_vlr_test_gsm_ciph.err
+++ b/tests/msc_vlr/msc_vlr_test_gsm_ciph.err
@@ -1196,7 +1196,7 @@ DRLL subscr IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071: Message not permitted for initial
   MSC <--GERAN-A-- MS: GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP
 DREF IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071: MSC conn use + dtap == 1 (0x2: dtap)
 DRLL Dispatching 04.08 message GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP (0x5:0x19)
-DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI(IMEI)=423423423423420
+DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI=IMEI-423423423423420
 DVLR set IMEI on subscriber; IMSI=901700000004620 IMEI=423423423423420
 DVLR vlr_lu_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071:GERAN-A-0:LU){VLR_ULA_S_WAIT_LU_COMPL}: Received Event VLR_ULA_E_ID_IMEI
 DVLR lu_compl_vlr_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071:GERAN-A-0:LU){LU_COMPL_VLR_S_WAIT_IMEI}: Received Event LU_COMPL_VLR_E_IMEI_CHECK_ACK
@@ -1655,7 +1655,7 @@ DRLL subscr IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071: Message not permitted for initial
   MSC <--GERAN-A-- MS: GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP
 DREF IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071: MSC conn use + dtap == 1 (0x2: dtap)
 DRLL Dispatching 04.08 message GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP (0x5:0x19)
-DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI(IMEI)=423423423423420
+DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI=IMEI-423423423423420
 DVLR set IMEI on subscriber; IMSI=901700000004620 IMEI=423423423423420
 DVLR vlr_lu_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071:GERAN-A-0:LU){VLR_ULA_S_WAIT_LU_COMPL}: Received Event VLR_ULA_E_ID_IMEI
 DVLR lu_compl_vlr_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071:GERAN-A-0:LU){LU_COMPL_VLR_S_WAIT_IMEI_TMSI}: Received Event LU_COMPL_VLR_E_IMEI_CHECK_ACK
diff --git a/tests/msc_vlr/msc_vlr_test_no_authen.err b/tests/msc_vlr/msc_vlr_test_no_authen.err
index 8df3db535..3e28468fb 100644
--- a/tests/msc_vlr/msc_vlr_test_no_authen.err
+++ b/tests/msc_vlr/msc_vlr_test_no_authen.err
@@ -937,7 +937,7 @@ DRLL subscr IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071: Message not permitted for initial
   MSC <--GERAN-A-- MS: GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP
 DREF IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071: MSC conn use + dtap == 1 (0x2: dtap)
 DRLL Dispatching 04.08 message GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP (0x5:0x19)
-DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI(IMEI)=423423423423420
+DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI=IMEI-423423423423420
 DVLR set IMEI on subscriber; IMSI=901700000004620 IMEI=423423423423420
 DVLR vlr_lu_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071:GERAN-A-0:LU){VLR_ULA_S_WAIT_LU_COMPL}: Received Event VLR_ULA_E_ID_IMEI
 DVLR lu_compl_vlr_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071:GERAN-A-0:LU){LU_COMPL_VLR_S_WAIT_IMEI}: Received Event LU_COMPL_VLR_E_IMEI_CHECK_ACK
@@ -1120,7 +1120,7 @@ DRLL subscr IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071: Message not permitted for initial
   MSC <--GERAN-A-- MS: GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP
 DREF IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071: MSC conn use + dtap == 1 (0x2: dtap)
 DRLL Dispatching 04.08 message GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP (0x5:0x19)
-DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI(IMEI)=423423423423420
+DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI=IMEI-423423423423420
 DVLR set IMEI on subscriber; IMSI=901700000004620 IMEI=423423423423420
 DVLR vlr_lu_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071:GERAN-A-0:LU){VLR_ULA_S_WAIT_LU_COMPL}: Received Event VLR_ULA_E_ID_IMEI
 DVLR lu_compl_vlr_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071:GERAN-A-0:LU){LU_COMPL_VLR_S_WAIT_IMEI_TMSI}: Received Event LU_COMPL_VLR_E_IMEI_CHECK_ACK
@@ -1262,7 +1262,7 @@ DMM RAN_conn(IMSI-901700000004620:GERAN-A-0:LU){RAN_CONN_S_AUTH_CIPH}: Awaiting
   MSC <--GERAN-A-- MS: GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP
 DREF IMSI-901700000004620: MSC conn use + dtap == 1 (0x2: dtap)
 DRLL Dispatching 04.08 message GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP (0x5:0x19)
-DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI(IMEI-SV)=4234234234234275
+DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI=IMEI-SV-4234234234234275
 DVLR set IMEISV on subscriber; IMSI=901700000004620 IMEISV=4234234234234275
 DVLR vlr_lu_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:GERAN-A-0:LU){VLR_ULA_S_WAIT_IMEISV}: Received Event VLR_ULA_E_ID_IMEISV
 DVLR vlr_lu_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:GERAN-A-0:LU){VLR_ULA_S_WAIT_IMEISV}: vlr_loc_upd_node1()
@@ -1431,7 +1431,7 @@ DMM RAN_conn(IMSI-901700000004620:GERAN-A-0:LU){RAN_CONN_S_AUTH_CIPH}: Awaiting
   MSC <--GERAN-A-- MS: GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP
 DREF IMSI-901700000004620: MSC conn use + dtap == 1 (0x2: dtap)
 DRLL Dispatching 04.08 message GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP (0x5:0x19)
-DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI(IMEI-SV)=4234234234234275
+DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI=IMEI-SV-4234234234234275
 DVLR set IMEISV on subscriber; IMSI=901700000004620 IMEISV=4234234234234275
 DVLR vlr_lu_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:GERAN-A-0:LU){VLR_ULA_S_WAIT_IMEISV}: Received Event VLR_ULA_E_ID_IMEISV
 DVLR vlr_lu_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:GERAN-A-0:LU){VLR_ULA_S_WAIT_IMEISV}: vlr_loc_upd_node1()
@@ -1520,7 +1520,7 @@ DRLL subscr IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071: Message not permitted for initial
   MSC <--GERAN-A-- MS: GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP
 DREF IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071: MSC conn use + dtap == 1 (0x2: dtap)
 DRLL Dispatching 04.08 message GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP (0x5:0x19)
-DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI(IMEI)=423423423423420
+DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI=IMEI-423423423423420
 DVLR set IMEI on subscriber; IMSI=901700000004620 IMEI=423423423423420
 DVLR vlr_lu_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071:GERAN-A-0:LU){VLR_ULA_S_WAIT_LU_COMPL}: Received Event VLR_ULA_E_ID_IMEI
 DVLR lu_compl_vlr_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071:GERAN-A-0:LU){LU_COMPL_VLR_S_WAIT_IMEI}: Received Event LU_COMPL_VLR_E_IMEI_CHECK_ACK
@@ -1632,7 +1632,7 @@ DMM RAN_conn(IMSI-901700000004620:GERAN-A-0:LU){RAN_CONN_S_AUTH_CIPH}: Awaiting
   MSC <--GERAN-A-- MS: GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP
 DREF IMSI-901700000004620: MSC conn use + dtap == 1 (0x2: dtap)
 DRLL Dispatching 04.08 message GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP (0x5:0x19)
-DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI(IMEI-SV)=4234234234234275
+DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI=IMEI-SV-4234234234234275
 DVLR set IMEISV on subscriber; IMSI=901700000004620 IMEISV=4234234234234275
 DVLR vlr_lu_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:GERAN-A-0:LU){VLR_ULA_S_WAIT_IMEISV}: Received Event VLR_ULA_E_ID_IMEISV
 DVLR vlr_lu_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:GERAN-A-0:LU){VLR_ULA_S_WAIT_IMEISV}: vlr_loc_upd_node1()
@@ -1798,7 +1798,7 @@ DMM RAN_conn(IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071:TMSI-0x03020100:GERAN-A-0:LU){RAN
   MSC <--GERAN-A-- MS: GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP
 DREF IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071:TMSI-0x03020100: MSC conn use + dtap == 1 (0x2: dtap)
 DRLL Dispatching 04.08 message GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP (0x5:0x19)
-DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI(IMEI-SV)=5234234234234276
+DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI=IMEI-SV-5234234234234276
 DVLR set IMEISV on subscriber; IMSI=901700000004620 IMEISV=5234234234234276
 DVLR vlr_lu_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071:TMSI-0x03020100:GERAN-A-0:LU){VLR_ULA_S_WAIT_IMEISV}: Received Event VLR_ULA_E_ID_IMEISV
 DVLR vlr_lu_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071:TMSI-0x03020100:GERAN-A-0:LU){VLR_ULA_S_WAIT_IMEISV}: vlr_loc_upd_node1()
@@ -2006,7 +2006,7 @@ DMM RAN_conn(IMSI-901700000004620:GERAN-A-0:LU){RAN_CONN_S_AUTH_CIPH}: Awaiting
   MSC <--GERAN-A-- MS: GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP
 DREF IMSI-901700000004620: MSC conn use + dtap == 1 (0x2: dtap)
 DRLL Dispatching 04.08 message GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP (0x5:0x19)
-DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI(IMEI-SV)=4234234234234275
+DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI=IMEI-SV-4234234234234275
 DVLR set IMEISV on subscriber; IMSI=901700000004620 IMEISV=4234234234234275
 DVLR vlr_lu_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:GERAN-A-0:LU){VLR_ULA_S_WAIT_IMEISV}: Received Event VLR_ULA_E_ID_IMEISV
 DVLR vlr_lu_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:GERAN-A-0:LU){VLR_ULA_S_WAIT_IMEISV}: vlr_loc_upd_node1()
@@ -2095,7 +2095,7 @@ DRLL subscr IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071: Message not permitted for initial
   MSC <--GERAN-A-- MS: GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP
 DREF IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071: MSC conn use + dtap == 1 (0x2: dtap)
 DRLL Dispatching 04.08 message GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP (0x5:0x19)
-DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI(IMEI)=423423423423420
+DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI=IMEI-423423423423420
 DVLR set IMEI on subscriber; IMSI=901700000004620 IMEI=423423423423420
 DVLR vlr_lu_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071:GERAN-A-0:LU){VLR_ULA_S_WAIT_LU_COMPL}: Received Event VLR_ULA_E_ID_IMEI
 DVLR lu_compl_vlr_fsm(IMSI-901700000004620:MSISDN-46071:GERAN-A-0:LU){LU_COMPL_VLR_S_WAIT_IMEI_TMSI}: Received Event LU_COMPL_VLR_E_IMEI_CHECK_ACK
diff --git a/tests/msc_vlr/msc_vlr_test_rest.err b/tests/msc_vlr/msc_vlr_test_rest.err
index 42ce1e0a7..6d9840823 100644
--- a/tests/msc_vlr/msc_vlr_test_rest.err
+++ b/tests/msc_vlr/msc_vlr_test_rest.err
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ DRLL subscr TMSI-0x23422342: Message not permitted for initial conn: SMS:0x01
   MSC <--GERAN-A-- MS: GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP
 DREF TMSI-0x23422342: MSC conn use + dtap == 1 (0x2: dtap)
 DRLL Dispatching 04.08 message GSM48_MT_MM_ID_RESP (0x5:0x19)
-DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI(IMSI)=901700000004620
+DMM IDENTITY RESPONSE: MI=IMSI-901700000004620
 DVLR set IMSI on subscriber; IMSI=901700000004620 id=901700000004620
 DVLR vlr_lu_fsm(TMSI-0x23422342:GERAN-A-0:LU){VLR_ULA_S_WAIT_IMSI}: Received Event VLR_ULA_E_ID_IMSI
 DVLR set IMSI on subscriber; IMSI=901700000004620 id=901700000004620