diff --git a/openbsc/include/openbsc/gsm_data.h b/openbsc/include/openbsc/gsm_data.h
index bf1ac7c3a..51d68d23b 100644
--- a/openbsc/include/openbsc/gsm_data.h
+++ b/openbsc/include/openbsc/gsm_data.h
@@ -359,6 +359,17 @@ static inline int is_ipaccess_bts(struct gsm_bts *bts)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static inline int is_sysmobts_v2(struct gsm_bts *bts)
+{
+	switch (bts->type) {
+	case GSM_BTS_TYPE_OSMO_SYSMO:
+		return 1;
+	default:
+		break;
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static inline int is_siemens_bts(struct gsm_bts *bts)
 {
 	switch (bts->type) {
diff --git a/openbsc/src/libbsc/abis_rsl.c b/openbsc/src/libbsc/abis_rsl.c
index 3fa30d112..41289ddd8 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/libbsc/abis_rsl.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/libbsc/abis_rsl.c
@@ -720,10 +720,21 @@ static int rsl_rx_rf_chan_rel_ack(struct gsm_lchan *lchan)
 	osmo_timer_del(&lchan->act_timer);
 	osmo_timer_del(&lchan->T3111);
 
+	/*
+	 * The BTS didn't respond within the timeout to our channel
+	 * release request and we have marked the channel as broken.
+	 * Now we do receive an ACK and let's be conservative. If it
+	 * is a sysmoBTS we know that only one RF Channel Release ACK
+	 * will be sent. So let's "repair" the channel.
+	 */
 	if (lchan->state == LCHAN_S_BROKEN) {
-		/* we are leaving this channel broken for now */
-		LOGP(DRSL, LOGL_NOTICE, "%s CHAN REL ACK for broken channel.\n",
-			gsm_lchan_name(lchan));
+		int do_free = is_sysmobts_v2(lchan->ts->trx->bts);
+		LOGP(DRSL, LOGL_NOTICE,
+			"%s CHAN REL ACK for broken channel. %s.\n",
+			gsm_lchan_name(lchan),
+			do_free ? "Releasing it" : "Keeping it broken");
+		if (do_free)
+			do_lchan_free(lchan);
 		return 0;
 	}