diff --git a/openbsc/src/chan_alloc.c b/openbsc/src/chan_alloc.c
index 62d476a..675cbbb 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/chan_alloc.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/chan_alloc.c
@@ -478,6 +478,14 @@
 	}
 
 
+	/* Release a handover that might be in operation */
+	if (conn->ho_lchan) {
+		conn->ho_lchan->conn = NULL;
+		lchan_release(conn->ho_lchan, 0, 1);
+		conn->ho_lchan = NULL;
+	}
+
+
 	lchan = conn->lchan;
 	talloc_free(conn);