diff --git a/src/gsm_04_08.c b/src/gsm_04_08.c
index 4d77d5d..0d889fb 100644
--- a/src/gsm_04_08.c
+++ b/src/gsm_04_08.c
@@ -700,6 +700,13 @@
 	DEBUGP(DRR, "<- Channel was requested by %s\n",
 		subscr->name ? subscr->name : subscr->imsi);
 
+	if (!msg->lchan->subscr)
+		msg->lchan->subscr = subscr;
+	else if (msg->lchan->subscr != subscr) {
+		DEBUGP(DRR, "<- Channel already owned by someone else?\n");
+		subscr_put(subscr);
+	}
+
 	struct paging_signal_data sig_data = {
 		.data = {
 			.area = S_PAGING,
@@ -711,13 +718,6 @@
 	dispatch_signal(&sig_data.data);
 	paging_request_stop(msg->trx->bts, subscr);
 
-	if (!msg->lchan->subscr)
-		msg->lchan->subscr = subscr;
-	else if (msg->lchan->subscr != subscr) {
-		DEBUGP(DRR, "<- Channel already owned by someone else?\n");
-		subscr_put(subscr);
-	}
-
 	/* FIXME: somehow signal the completion of the PAGING to
 	 * the entity that requested the paging */