diff --git a/openbsc/src/libbsc/abis_rsl.c b/openbsc/src/libbsc/abis_rsl.c
index 4b30763..c253366 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/libbsc/abis_rsl.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/libbsc/abis_rsl.c
@@ -863,6 +863,9 @@
 				TLVP_LEN(&tp, RSL_IE_CAUSE));
 		if (*cause != RSL_ERR_RCH_ALR_ACTV_ALLOC)
 			rsl_lchan_set_state(msg->lchan, LCHAN_S_NONE);
+		else
+			rsl_rf_chan_release(msg->lchan, 1);
+
 	} else
 		rsl_lchan_set_state(msg->lchan, LCHAN_S_NONE);