diff --git a/include/osmocom/bsc/gsm_data.h b/include/osmocom/bsc/gsm_data.h
index d9dd2d4b8..bdf7cfba7 100644
--- a/include/osmocom/bsc/gsm_data.h
+++ b/include/osmocom/bsc/gsm_data.h
@@ -96,9 +96,6 @@ struct gsm_subscriber_connection {
 	struct gsm_lchan *lchan;
 	/* the future/allocated but not yet used lchan during HANDOVER */
 	struct gsm_lchan *ho_lchan;
-	/* a short-hand pointer to the BTS currently serving the subscriber,
-	 * points to gsm_subscriber_connection.lchan->ts->trx->bts */
-	struct gsm_bts *bts;
 
 	/* timer for assignment handling */
 	struct osmo_timer_list T10;
@@ -116,13 +113,14 @@ struct gsm_subscriber_connection {
 	struct llist_head ho_penalty_timers;
 };
 
-static inline struct gsm_bts *conn_get_bts(struct gsm_subscriber_connection *conn) {
-	return conn->bts;
-}
-
 
 #include "gsm_data_shared.h"
 
+static inline struct gsm_bts *conn_get_bts(struct gsm_subscriber_connection *conn) {
+	OSMO_ASSERT(conn->lchan);
+	return conn->lchan->ts->trx->bts;
+}
+
 enum {
 	BTS_CTR_CHREQ_TOTAL,
 	BTS_CTR_CHREQ_NO_CHANNEL,
diff --git a/src/libbsc/bsc_api.c b/src/libbsc/bsc_api.c
index 27bf739d1..21836f326 100644
--- a/src/libbsc/bsc_api.c
+++ b/src/libbsc/bsc_api.c
@@ -274,7 +274,6 @@ struct gsm_subscriber_connection *bsc_subscr_con_allocate(struct gsm_lchan *lcha
 
 	conn->network = net;
 	conn->lchan = lchan;
-	conn->bts = lchan->ts->trx->bts;
 	lchan->conn = conn;
 	INIT_LLIST_HEAD(&conn->ho_dtap_cache);
 	INIT_LLIST_HEAD(&conn->ho_penalty_timers);
@@ -873,7 +872,6 @@ int gsm0808_clear(struct gsm_subscriber_connection *conn)
 	conn->lchan = NULL;
 	conn->secondary_lchan = NULL;
 	conn->ho_lchan = NULL;
-	conn->bts = NULL;
 
 	osmo_timer_del(&conn->T10);
 
diff --git a/src/libbsc/handover_logic.c b/src/libbsc/handover_logic.c
index 4b86de73e..6eada5b96 100644
--- a/src/libbsc/handover_logic.c
+++ b/src/libbsc/handover_logic.c
@@ -288,7 +288,6 @@ static int ho_gsm48_ho_compl(struct gsm_lchan *new_lchan)
 
 	new_lchan->conn->ho_lchan = NULL;
 	new_lchan->conn->lchan = new_lchan;
-	new_lchan->conn->bts = new_lchan->ts->trx->bts;
 	ho->old_lchan->conn = NULL;
 
 	lchan_release(ho->old_lchan, 0, RSL_REL_LOCAL_END);
diff --git a/tests/bsc/bsc_test.c b/tests/bsc/bsc_test.c
index 1fb51aadc..420ef73d6 100644
--- a/tests/bsc/bsc_test.c
+++ b/tests/bsc/bsc_test.c
@@ -134,7 +134,6 @@ static void test_scan(void)
 
 	bts->network = net;
 	sccp_con->msc = msc;
-	conn->bts = bts;
 	conn->sccp_con = sccp_con;
 	conn->lchan = &bts->c0->ts[1].lchan[0];