diff --git a/openbsc/include/openbsc/gsm_data_shared.h b/openbsc/include/openbsc/gsm_data_shared.h
index 27bbe5c..21fa645 100644
--- a/openbsc/include/openbsc/gsm_data_shared.h
+++ b/openbsc/include/openbsc/gsm_data_shared.h
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@
 	LCHAN_S_ACTIVE,		/* channel is active and operational */
 	LCHAN_S_REL_REQ,	/* channel release has been requested */
 	LCHAN_S_REL_ERR,	/* channel is in an error state */
+	LCHAN_S_BROKEN,		/* channel is somehow unusable */
 	LCHAN_S_INACTIVE,	/* channel is set inactive */
 };
 
@@ -219,6 +220,7 @@
 	struct osmo_timer_list T3111;
 	struct osmo_timer_list error_timer;
 	struct osmo_timer_list act_timer;
+	uint8_t error_cause;
 
 	/* table of neighbor cell measurements */
 	struct neigh_meas_proc neigh_meas[MAX_NEIGH_MEAS];
diff --git a/openbsc/src/libbsc/abis_rsl.c b/openbsc/src/libbsc/abis_rsl.c
index 09f24f6..04d5c61 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/libbsc/abis_rsl.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/libbsc/abis_rsl.c
@@ -935,19 +935,18 @@
 		const uint8_t *cause = TLVP_VAL(&tp, RSL_IE_CAUSE);
 		print_rsl_cause(LOGL_ERROR, cause,
 				TLVP_LEN(&tp, RSL_IE_CAUSE));
+		msg->lchan->error_cause = *cause;
 		if (*cause != RSL_ERR_RCH_ALR_ACTV_ALLOC)
-			rsl_lchan_set_state(msg->lchan, LCHAN_S_NONE);
+			rsl_lchan_set_state(msg->lchan, LCHAN_S_BROKEN);
 		else
 			rsl_rf_chan_release(msg->lchan, 1);
 
 	} else
-		rsl_lchan_set_state(msg->lchan, LCHAN_S_NONE);
+		rsl_lchan_set_state(msg->lchan, LCHAN_S_BROKEN);
 
 	LOGPC(DRSL, LOGL_ERROR, "\n");
 
 	send_lchan_signal(S_LCHAN_ACTIVATE_NACK, msg->lchan, NULL);
-
-	lchan_free(msg->lchan);
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/openbsc/src/libcommon/gsm_data_shared.c b/openbsc/src/libcommon/gsm_data_shared.c
index eaf53b7..ef29d6a 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/libcommon/gsm_data_shared.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/libcommon/gsm_data_shared.c
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@
 	{ LCHAN_S_INACTIVE,	"INACTIVE" },
 	{ LCHAN_S_REL_REQ,	"RELEASE REQUESTED" },
 	{ LCHAN_S_REL_ERR,	"RELEASE DUE ERROR" },
+	{ LCHAN_S_BROKEN,	"BROKEN UNUSABLE" },
 	{ 0,			NULL }
 };