diff --git a/openbsc/src/libbsc/bsc_api.c b/openbsc/src/libbsc/bsc_api.c
index 70d6413..ab71ebb 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/libbsc/bsc_api.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/libbsc/bsc_api.c
@@ -137,7 +137,11 @@
 	LOGP(DMSC, LOGL_ERROR, "Assigment T10 timeout on %p\n", conn);
 
 	/* normal release on the secondary channel */
-	lchan_release(conn->secondary_lchan, 0, 1);
+	if (conn->secondary_lchan) {
+		lchan_release(conn->secondary_lchan, 0, 1);
+	} else {
+		LOGP(DMSC, LOGL_NOTICE, "Secondary lchan is NULL, not releasing\n");
+	}
 	conn->secondary_lchan = NULL;
 
 	/* inform them about the failure */