An auxiliary handover message is sent from a target eNB to a UE being handed over from a source eNB. The auxiliary handover message includes a context identifier that is established between the source eNB and the UE, which the source eNB provides to the target eNB during context data exchange when preparing for the handover. The UE uses the context identifier to verify that the auxiliary handover message is valid. Various approaches are detailed for minimizing signaling overhead and minimizing the time the UE must monitor the separate channel for the auxiliary handover message in the event the UE does not properly receive the original handover message from the source eNB. The context identifier may be a random number, a C-RNTI, an eNB-ID, or a token. The auxiliary handover command sent from the target eNB may be the context identifier with or without a copy of the handover command.