diff --git a/openbsc/doc/channel_release.txt b/openbsc/doc/channel_release.txt
index e578aa8..bd707b4 100644
--- a/openbsc/doc/channel_release.txt
+++ b/openbsc/doc/channel_release.txt
@@ -56,21 +56,20 @@
 	* Release the primary lchan with normal release, SACH deactivate
 
 chan_alloc.c:lchan_release(chan, sacch_deactivate, reason)
-	* Start release procedure. It is working in steps with callbacks
-          coming from the abis_rsl.c code.
-        * Release all SAPI's > 0, wait for them to be released
-	* Send SACH Deactivate on SAPI=0
-	* Finally Release the channel
+	* Start the release procedure. It is working in steps with callbacks
+	  coming from the abis_rsl.c code.
+	* Release all SAPI's > 0 as local end (The BTS should send a
+	  REL_CONF a message)
+	* Send SACH Deactivate on SAPI=0 if required.
+	* It should start T3109 but it does not.
+	* abis_rsl.c schedules the RSL_MT_RF_CHAN_REL once all SAPI's are
+	  released and after T3111 has timed out or there is an error.
 
 RX of RELease INDication:
         * Calls internal rsl_handle_release which might release the RF.
-        * Informs chan_alloc.c about the release with
-          rsl_lchan_rll_release.
 
-RX of RELease CONFimem:
+RX of RELease CONFirmation:
         * Calls internal rsl_handle_release which might release the RF.
-        * Informs chan_alloc.c about the release with
-          rsl_lchan_rll_release.
 
 * RX of RF_CHAN_REL_ACK
 	* call lchan_free()
diff --git a/openbsc/include/openbsc/abis_rsl.h b/openbsc/include/openbsc/abis_rsl.h
index c34492e..45af4a6 100644
--- a/openbsc/include/openbsc/abis_rsl.h
+++ b/openbsc/include/openbsc/abis_rsl.h
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@
 
 /* to be provided by external code */
 int rsl_deact_sacch(struct gsm_lchan *lchan);
-int rsl_lchan_rll_release(struct gsm_lchan *lchan, uint8_t link_id);
 
 /* BCCH related code */
 int rsl_ccch_conf_to_bs_cc_chans(int ccch_conf);
@@ -97,5 +96,9 @@
 /* required for Nokia BTS power control */
 int rsl_bs_power_control(struct gsm_bts_trx *trx, uint8_t channel, uint8_t reduction);
 
+
+int rsl_release_sapis_from(struct gsm_lchan *lchan, int start,
+				enum rsl_rel_mode release_mode);
+
 #endif /* RSL_MT_H */
 
diff --git a/openbsc/include/openbsc/gsm_data_shared.h b/openbsc/include/openbsc/gsm_data_shared.h
index f81280f..27bbe5c 100644
--- a/openbsc/include/openbsc/gsm_data_shared.h
+++ b/openbsc/include/openbsc/gsm_data_shared.h
@@ -196,9 +196,6 @@
 	uint8_t sapis[8];
 	int sacch_deact;
 
-	/* Release handling */
-	enum rsl_rel_mode release_mode;
-
 	struct {
 		uint32_t bound_ip;
 		uint32_t connect_ip;
diff --git a/openbsc/src/libbsc/abis_rsl.c b/openbsc/src/libbsc/abis_rsl.c
index 6f50cee..6785be2 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/libbsc/abis_rsl.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/libbsc/abis_rsl.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
  * 3GPP TS 08.58 version 8.6.0 Release 1999 / ETSI TS 100 596 V8.6.0 */
 
 /* (C) 2008-2010 by Harald Welte <laforge@gnumonks.org>
+ * (C) 2012 by Holger Hans Peter Freyther
  *
  * All Rights Reserved
  *
@@ -1581,7 +1582,6 @@
 		rll_indication(msg->lchan, rllh->link_id,
 				  BSC_RLLR_IND_REL_IND);
 		rsl_handle_release(msg->lchan);
-		rsl_lchan_rll_release(msg->lchan, rllh->link_id);
 		break;
 	case RSL_MT_REL_CONF:
 		/* BTS informs us of having received UA from MS,
@@ -1589,7 +1589,6 @@
 		DEBUGPC(DRLL, "RELEASE CONFIRMATION\n");
 		msg->lchan->sapis[rllh->link_id & 0x7] = LCHAN_SAPI_UNUSED;
 		rsl_handle_release(msg->lchan);
-		rsl_lchan_rll_release(msg->lchan, rllh->link_id);
 		break;
 	case RSL_MT_ERROR_IND:
 		rc = rsl_rx_rll_err_ind(msg);
@@ -2058,3 +2057,30 @@
 
 	return abis_rsl_sendmsg(msg);
 }
+
+/**
+ * Release all allocated SAPIs starting from @param start and
+ * release them with the given release mode. Once the release
+ * confirmation arrives it will be attempted to release the
+ * the RF channel.
+ */
+int rsl_release_sapis_from(struct gsm_lchan *lchan, int start,
+			enum rsl_rel_mode release_mode)
+{
+	int no_sapi = 1;
+	int sapi;
+
+	for (sapi = start; sapi < ARRAY_SIZE(lchan->sapis); ++sapi) {
+		uint8_t link_id;
+		if (lchan->sapis[sapi] == LCHAN_SAPI_UNUSED)
+			continue;
+
+		link_id = sapi;
+		if (lchan->type == GSM_LCHAN_TCH_F || lchan->type == GSM_LCHAN_TCH_H)
+			link_id |= 0x40;
+		rsl_release_request(lchan, link_id, release_mode);
+		no_sapi = 0;
+	}
+
+	return no_sapi;
+}
diff --git a/openbsc/src/libbsc/chan_alloc.c b/openbsc/src/libbsc/chan_alloc.c
index 1efe2aa..a8b15d1 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/libbsc/chan_alloc.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/libbsc/chan_alloc.c
@@ -345,8 +345,6 @@
 	}
 
 	lchan->sacch_deact = 0;
-	lchan->release_mode = RSL_REL_NORMAL;
-
 	/* FIXME: ts_free() the timeslot, if we're the last logical
 	 * channel using it */
 }
@@ -376,51 +374,22 @@
 	}
 }
 
-/* release the next allocated SAPI or return 0 */
-static int _lchan_release_next_sapi(struct gsm_lchan *lchan)
-{
-	int sapi;
-
-	for (sapi = 1; sapi < ARRAY_SIZE(lchan->sapis); ++sapi) {
-		uint8_t link_id;
-		if (lchan->sapis[sapi] == LCHAN_SAPI_UNUSED)
-			continue;
-
-		link_id = sapi;
-		if (lchan->type == GSM_LCHAN_TCH_F || lchan->type == GSM_LCHAN_TCH_H)
-			link_id |= 0x40;
-		rsl_release_request(lchan, link_id, RSL_REL_LOCAL_END);
-		return 0;
-	}
-
-	return 1;
-}
-
 /* Drive the release process of the lchan */
-static void _lchan_handle_release(struct gsm_lchan *lchan)
+static void _lchan_handle_release(struct gsm_lchan *lchan,
+				  int sach_deact, int mode)
 {
-	/* Ask for SAPI != 0 to be freed first and stop if we need to wait */
-	if (_lchan_release_next_sapi(lchan) == 0)
-		return;
+	/* Release all SAPIs on the local end and continue */
+	rsl_release_sapis_from(lchan, 1, RSL_REL_LOCAL_END);
 
-	if (lchan->sacch_deact) {
+	/*
+	 * Shall we send a RR Release, start T3109 and wait for the
+	 * release indication from the BTS or just take it down (e.g.
+	 * on assignment requests)
+	 */
+	if (sach_deact)
 		gsm48_send_rr_release(lchan);
-		return;
-	}
-
-	rsl_release_request(lchan, 0, lchan->release_mode);
-	rsl_lchan_set_state(lchan, LCHAN_S_REL_REQ);
-}
-
-/* called from abis rsl */
-int rsl_lchan_rll_release(struct gsm_lchan *lchan, uint8_t link_id)
-{
-	if (lchan->state != LCHAN_S_REL_REQ)
-		return -1;
-
-	if ((link_id & 0x7) != 0)
-		_lchan_handle_release(lchan);
-	return 0;
+	else
+		rsl_release_request(lchan, 0, mode);
 }
 
 /* Consider releasing the channel now */
@@ -430,9 +399,7 @@
 	rsl_lchan_set_state(lchan, LCHAN_S_REL_REQ);
 
 	lchan->conn = NULL;
-	lchan->release_mode = mode;
-	lchan->sacch_deact = sacch_deact;
-	_lchan_handle_release(lchan);
+	_lchan_handle_release(lchan, sacch_deact, mode);
 	return 1;
 }