diff --git a/openbsc/src/gsm_data.c b/openbsc/src/gsm_data.c
index 29b6d07..526b177 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/gsm_data.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/gsm_data.c
@@ -239,6 +239,7 @@
 
 	bts->rach_b_thresh = -1;
 	bts->rach_ldavg_slots = -1;
+	bts->paging.free_chans_need = -1;
 	llist_add_tail(&bts->list, &net->bts_list);
 
 	return bts;