diff --git a/src/chan_alloc.c b/src/chan_alloc.c
index 4ef5ff9..3ef8b4d 100644
--- a/src/chan_alloc.c
+++ b/src/chan_alloc.c
@@ -63,7 +63,25 @@
 	int i, j;
 	for (i = 0; i < bts->num_trx; i++) {
 		struct gsm_bts_trx *trx = &bts->trx[i];
-		for (j = 0; j < 8; j++) {
+		int from, to;
+
+		/* the following constraints are pure policy,
+		 * no requirement to put this restriction in place */
+		switch (pchan) {
+		case GSM_PCHAN_CCCH:
+		case GSM_PCHAN_CCCH_SDCCH4:
+			from = 0; to = 0;
+			break;
+		case GSM_PCHAN_SDCCH8_SACCH8C:
+			from = 1; to = 1;
+			break;
+		case GSM_PCHAN_TCH_F:
+		case GSM_PCHAN_TCH_H:
+			from = 2; to = 7;
+			break;
+		}
+
+		for (j = from; j <= to; j++) {
 			struct gsm_bts_trx_ts *ts = &trx->ts[j];
 			if (ts->pchan == GSM_PCHAN_NONE) {
 				ts->pchan = pchan;