diff --git a/msc_tests/MSC_Tests.ttcn b/msc_tests/MSC_Tests.ttcn
index 8172e7a..9e01fd5 100644
--- a/msc_tests/MSC_Tests.ttcn
+++ b/msc_tests/MSC_Tests.ttcn
@@ -1144,6 +1144,7 @@
 
 	f_establish_fully(valueof(ts_MI_IMSI_LV(g_pars.imsi)), false, false);
 	timer T := 30.0;
+	T.start;
 	alt {
 	[] T.timeout { setverdict(fail, "Timeout waiting for channel release"); self.stop; }
 	[] BSSAP.receive(tr_BSSMAP_ClearCommand) {
@@ -1179,6 +1180,7 @@
 	BSSAP.send(ts_PDU_DTAP_MO(ts_ML3_MO_CC_SETUP(cpars.transaction_id, cpars.called_party)));
 
 	timer T := 30.0;
+	T.start;
 	alt {
 	[] T.timeout { setverdict(fail, "Timeout waiting for channel release"); self.stop; }
 	[] BSSAP.receive(tr_BSSMAP_ClearCommand) {
@@ -1223,6 +1225,7 @@
 	/* never respond to this */
 
 	timer T := 30.0;
+	T.start;
 	alt {
 	[] T.timeout { setverdict(fail, "Timeout waiting for channel release"); self.stop; }
 	[] BSSAP.receive(tr_BSSMAP_ClearCommand) {