Don't register while doing a network search with +COPS=?

Question

Hi all, 
 
 We've been doing automatic network selection (+COPS=0) but are looking into moving to manual network selection. 
 When trying to search for available networks with +COPS=?, we see that the modem is already starting to connect to a network. 
 
 This seems not very wanted, especially if you read this: 
 
 When the modem is camped on a cell and properly registered, the manual search is done only in the current system. Scanning the other system would cause the modem to lose connection to the network, and it would not be able to receive paging from the network while scanning the other system. 
 
 https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/107865/at-cops-only-returning-nb-iot-networks-act-9-or-only-lte-m-networks-act-7 
 I know of a different modem that supports +COPS=2, meaning don't register do a network or deregister if you're on a network. 
 
 How would we properly go about listing all available networks and choosing one to connect to. If system mode is set to both LTE-M and NB-IoT, we want to see networks of both of those. 
 
 Thank you!