diff --git a/openbsc/src/handover_logic.c b/openbsc/src/handover_logic.c
index 7352d64..b2ffe46 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/handover_logic.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/handover_logic.c
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@
 		return rc;
 	}
 
+	rsl_lchan_set_state(new_lchan, LCHAN_S_ACT_REQ);
 	llist_add(&ho->list, &bsc_handovers);
 	/* we continue in the SS_LCHAN handler / ho_chan_activ_ack */