The invention is directed to optimization of a seamless transition of a mobile device from a 3G eHRPD network to a 4G network in a failure scenario. The mobile device is authenticated and attached to the 3G eHRPD network. Upon the mobile device initiating a first handoff attempt to access and access the 4G network, the subscriber profile database is accessed to determine whether a packet gateway identifier is stored on the database. If the identifier is not stored on the database, the first handoff attempt of the mobile device to access the 4G network is denied. Upon being denied, the packet gateway is triggered to communicate the packet gateway identifier in an authorization request so that the identifier can be stored in the subscriber profile database. A subsequent attempt of the mobile device to handoff to the 4G network is allowed, as the packet gateway identifier is now stored on the database.