Embodiments include methods for a user equipment (UE) to provide downlink (DL) channel-quality reports during a random-access (RA) procedure in a cell provided by a network node in a radio access network (RAN). Such embodiments include receiving, from the network node, a first indicator indicating that the UE may have to report DL channel quality in a particular message of the RA procedure; and initiating the RA procedure. The UE may be configured to operate in a coverage-enhancement (CE) mode. Such embodiments can also include initiating DL channel quality measurements based on the first indicator, wherein the DL channel quality measurements can be initiated before receiving a RA response from the network node. Other embodiments include complementary methods performed by a network node, as well as UEs and network nodes configured to perform the respective methods.