diff --git a/openbsc/include/openbsc/abis_rsl.h b/openbsc/include/openbsc/abis_rsl.h
index 84a1697..cc4a367 100644
--- a/openbsc/include/openbsc/abis_rsl.h
+++ b/openbsc/include/openbsc/abis_rsl.h
@@ -477,6 +477,7 @@
 
 /* to be provided by external code */
 int abis_rsl_sendmsg(struct msgb *msg);
+int rsl_deact_sacch(struct gsm_lchan *lchan);
 int rsl_chan_release(struct gsm_lchan *lchan);
 
 /* BCCH related code */
diff --git a/openbsc/src/abis_rsl.c b/openbsc/src/abis_rsl.c
index df95e79..cc4a229 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/abis_rsl.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/abis_rsl.c
@@ -652,6 +652,25 @@
 	return abis_rsl_sendmsg(msg);
 }
 
+/* Chapter 8.4.5 */
+int rsl_deact_sacch(struct gsm_lchan *lchan)
+{
+	struct abis_rsl_dchan_hdr *dh;
+	struct msgb *msg = rsl_msgb_alloc();
+
+	dh = (struct abis_rsl_dchan_hdr *) msgb_put(msg, sizeof(*dh));
+	init_dchan_hdr(dh, RSL_MT_DEACTIVATE_SACCH);
+	dh->chan_nr = lchan2chan_nr(lchan);
+
+	msg->lchan = lchan;
+	msg->trx = lchan->ts->trx;
+
+	DEBUGP(DRSL, "DEACTivate SACCH CMD channel=%s chan_nr=0x%02x\n",
+		gsm_ts_name(lchan->ts), dh->chan_nr);
+
+	return abis_rsl_sendmsg(msg);
+}
+
 /* Chapter 9.1.7 of 04.08 */
 int rsl_chan_release(struct gsm_lchan *lchan)
 {
diff --git a/openbsc/src/gsm_04_08.c b/openbsc/src/gsm_04_08.c
index 9fb53a7..df4d3c6 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/gsm_04_08.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/gsm_04_08.c
@@ -1769,7 +1769,11 @@
 	DEBUGP(DRR, "Sending Channel Release: Chan: Number: %d Type: %d\n",
 		lchan->nr, lchan->type);
 
-	return gsm48_sendmsg(msg);
+	/* Send actual release request to MS */
+	gsm48_sendmsg(msg);
+
+	/* Deactivate the SACCH on the BTS side */
+	return rsl_deact_sacch(lchan);
 }
 
 /* Call Control */