diff --git a/openbsc/src/libcommon/gsm_data_shared.c b/openbsc/src/libcommon/gsm_data_shared.c
index 8d99ea4..529f72c 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/libcommon/gsm_data_shared.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/libcommon/gsm_data_shared.c
@@ -592,7 +592,17 @@
 		break;
 	default:
 	case GSM_PCHAN_CCCH:
+#ifdef ROLE_BSC
 		OSMO_ASSERT(lchan_nr == 0);
+#else
+		/*
+		 * FIXME: On octphy and litecell, we hit above assertion (see
+		 * Max's comment at https://gerrit.osmocom.org/589 ); disabled
+		 * for BTS until this is clarified; remove the #ifdef when it
+		 * is fixed.
+		 */
+#warning "fix caller that passes lchan_nr != 0"
+#endif
 		cbits = 0x10;
 		break;
 	}