An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for handling a handover in a more efficient way. The invention relates to a method in a mobility controller (180) in a radio access network for preparing a handover. The method comprises the following steps to be taken during data transmission between a mobile terminal (140) and a source base station (120), before the handover: Sending a request to a candidate base station (122), which request aims at measuring and reporting timing alignment to be used by the mobile terminal (140) when communicating with the destination base station (122) after the handover, if the candidate base station becomes the destination base station (122) after the handover; receiving a report from the destination base station (122) comprising said requested timing alignment; and when the destination base station (122) is selected among the at least one candidate base stations, sending a message to the mobile terminal (140) to use said timing alignment received from the destination base station (122) when communicating with the destination base station (122) after the handover.