This disclosure relates to techniques for securely performing connection release and network redirection in a wireless communication system. A wireless device may establish a radio resource control (RRC) connection with a first cell. The wireless device may receive a RRC connection release message from the first cell. The RRC connection release message may include an indication to redirect the wireless device to a second cell. The RRC connection with the first cell may be released. It may be determined whether security has been established with the first cell when the indication to redirect the wireless device to the second cell is received. A new serving cell may be selected based at least in part on whether security has been established with the first cell when the indication to redirect the wireless device to the second cell is received.