The present invention relates to a method (300) for operating a user equipment (106) in a wireless radio network (100). The wireless radio network (100) comprises a base station (101) and at least one node (105) configured to relay communication data between the user equipment (106) and the base station (101). According to the method, a relayed communication state is determined (301) and a measurement of characteristics of further direct radio transmission links between the user equipment (106) and the wireless radio network (100) is initiated (302) depending on the relayed communication state.