diff --git a/openbsc/include/openbsc/chan_alloc.h b/openbsc/include/openbsc/chan_alloc.h
index 5eda312..1a7c857 100644
--- a/openbsc/include/openbsc/chan_alloc.h
+++ b/openbsc/include/openbsc/chan_alloc.h
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
 void lchan_reset(struct gsm_lchan *lchan);
 
 /* Release the given lchan */
-int lchan_release(struct gsm_lchan *lchan, int sach_deact, int reason);
+int lchan_release(struct gsm_lchan *lchan, int sach_deact, int release_mode);
 
 struct load_counter {
 	unsigned int total;
diff --git a/openbsc/include/openbsc/gsm_data_shared.h b/openbsc/include/openbsc/gsm_data_shared.h
index 7964b3c..9a2451b 100644
--- a/openbsc/include/openbsc/gsm_data_shared.h
+++ b/openbsc/include/openbsc/gsm_data_shared.h
@@ -177,7 +177,9 @@
 	/* Established data link layer services */
 	uint8_t sapis[8];
 	int sach_deact;
-	int release_reason;
+
+	/** GSM 08.58 9.3.20 */
+	int release_mode;
 
 	struct {
 		uint32_t bound_ip;
diff --git a/openbsc/src/libbsc/chan_alloc.c b/openbsc/src/libbsc/chan_alloc.c
index c0bdc1b..846a393 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/libbsc/chan_alloc.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/libbsc/chan_alloc.c
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@
 	}
 
 	lchan->sach_deact = 0;
-	lchan->release_reason = 0;
+	lchan->release_mode = 0;
 
 	/* FIXME: ts_free() the timeslot, if we're the last logical
 	 * channel using it */
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@
 		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, lchan->release_reason);
+		rsl_release_request(lchan, link_id, lchan->release_mode);
 		return 0;
 	}
 
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@
 		return;
 	}
 
-	rsl_release_request(lchan, 0, lchan->release_reason);
+	rsl_release_request(lchan, 0, lchan->release_mode);
 	rsl_lchan_set_state(lchan, LCHAN_S_REL_REQ);
 }
 
@@ -412,13 +412,13 @@
 }
 
 /* Consider releasing the channel now */
-int lchan_release(struct gsm_lchan *lchan, int sach_deact, int reason)
+int lchan_release(struct gsm_lchan *lchan, int sach_deact, int mode)
 {
 	DEBUGP(DRLL, "%s starting release sequence\n", gsm_lchan_name(lchan));
 	rsl_lchan_set_state(lchan, LCHAN_S_REL_REQ);
 
 	lchan->conn = NULL;
-	lchan->release_reason = reason;
+	lchan->release_mode = mode;
 	lchan->sach_deact = sach_deact;
 	_lchan_handle_release(lchan);
 	return 1;