Methods, systems, and devices related to related to digital wireless communication, and more specifically, to techniques related to securing a user authentication procedure. In one exemplary aspect, a method for wireless communication includes transmitting an authentication message from a network node. The method also includes determining a failure value indicating a reason for failure of the authentication message. The method also includes encrypting the failure value and an identifier. The method also includes transmitting an encrypted response message to the network node. In another exemplary aspect, a method for wireless communication includes transmitting an authentication message to a terminal. The method also includes receiving an encrypted response message from the terminal. The method also includes decrypting the encrypted response message to determine the failure value and the indicator.