A method for handling error recovery at a user equipment is provided herein. In one embodiment, the method includes: maintaining first and second communication channels between the user equipment and a radio access network; storing a plurality of control messages in a buffer for transmission over the first communication channel; detecting if the first communication channel is disabled; initiating a recovery procedure using the second communication channel that includes restoring the first communication channel using the second communication channel and sending a further message to one of the one or more buffers for transmission on the restored first communication channel; and in response to detecting that the first communication channel is disabled, moderating control messages stored in the one or more buffers.