diff --git a/gbproxy/GBProxy_Tests.ttcn b/gbproxy/GBProxy_Tests.ttcn
index a2055ea37..7811a0109 100644
--- a/gbproxy/GBProxy_Tests.ttcn
+++ b/gbproxy/GBProxy_Tests.ttcn
@@ -279,6 +279,7 @@ type component test_CT {
 	var boolean g_use_echo := false;
 
 	var ro_integer g_roi := {};
+	timer g_Tguard;
 };
 
 type component BSSGP_ConnHdlr {
@@ -414,7 +415,7 @@ private function ro_integer_contains(ro_integer r, integer x) return boolean {
 	return false;
 }
 
-function f_init() runs on test_CT {
+function f_init(float t_guard := 30.0) runs on test_CT {
 	var ro_integer bvci_unblocked := {};
 	var BssgpStatusIndication bsi;
 	var integer i;
@@ -424,6 +425,9 @@ function f_init() runs on test_CT {
 	}
 	g_initialized := true;
 
+	g_Tguard.start(t_guard);
+	activate(as_gTguard(g_Tguard));
+
 	g_sgsn[0].cfg := {
 		nsei := mp_nsconfig_sgsn[0].nsei,
 		sgsn_role := true,
@@ -503,6 +507,9 @@ function f_init() runs on test_CT {
 			mtc.stop;
 		}
 	}
+
+	/* re-start guard timer after all BVCs are up, so it only counts the actual test case */
+	g_Tguard.start(t_guard);
 }
 
 function f_cleanup() runs on test_CT {
@@ -574,8 +581,8 @@ private function f_connect_to_sgsn_bvc(integer port_idx, BSSGP_BVC_CT bvc_ct) ru
 	sgsn_ct[port_idx] := bvc_ct;
 }
 
-private altstep as_Tguard() runs on BSSGP_ConnHdlr {
-	[] g_Tguard.timeout {
+private altstep as_gTguard(timer Tguard) {
+	[] Tguard.timeout {
 		setverdict(fail, "Tguard timeout");
 		mtc.stop;
 	}
@@ -601,7 +608,7 @@ runs on BSSGP_ConnHdlr {
 	}
 
 	g_Tguard.start(pars.t_guard);
-	activate(as_Tguard());
+	activate(as_gTguard(g_Tguard));
 
 	/* call the user-supplied test case function */
 	fn.apply(id);