diff --git a/openbsc/src/gsm_04_08.c b/openbsc/src/gsm_04_08.c
index 5fea6bf..f87b335 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/gsm_04_08.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/gsm_04_08.c
@@ -1343,7 +1343,9 @@
 
 	if (!msg->lchan->subscr)
 		msg->lchan->subscr = subscr;
-	else if (msg->lchan->subscr != subscr) {
+	else if (msg->lchan->subscr == subscr)
+		subscr_put(subscr); /* lchan already has a ref, don't need another one */
+	else {
 		DEBUGP(DMM, "<- CM Channel already owned by someone else?\n");
 		subscr_put(subscr);
 	}