diff --git a/openbsc/src/libbsc/abis_rsl.c b/openbsc/src/libbsc/abis_rsl.c
index 029b62b..63b8729 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/libbsc/abis_rsl.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/libbsc/abis_rsl.c
@@ -196,7 +196,8 @@
 	LOGP(DRSL, LOGL_NOTICE, "%s Timeout during deactivation!\n",
 		gsm_lchan_name(lchan));
 
-	rsl_lchan_set_state(lchan, LCHAN_S_NONE);
+	if (lchan->state != LCHAN_S_REL_ERR)
+		rsl_lchan_set_state(lchan, LCHAN_S_NONE);
 	lchan_free(lchan);
 }