diff --git a/openbsc/include/openbsc/gsm_data.h b/openbsc/include/openbsc/gsm_data.h
index aee359219..cd1209303 100644
--- a/openbsc/include/openbsc/gsm_data.h
+++ b/openbsc/include/openbsc/gsm_data.h
@@ -172,6 +172,7 @@ enum gsm_lchan_state {
 	LCHAN_S_NONE,		/* channel is not active */
 	LCHAN_S_ACT_REQ,	/* channel activatin requested */
 	LCHAN_S_ACTIVE,		/* channel is active and operational */
+	LCHAN_S_REL_REQ,	/* channel release has been requested */
 	LCHAN_S_INACTIVE,	/* channel is set inactive */
 };
 
diff --git a/openbsc/src/abis_rsl.c b/openbsc/src/abis_rsl.c
index 667313b0a..6f13b4b30 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/abis_rsl.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/abis_rsl.c
@@ -921,6 +921,9 @@ int rsl_release_request(struct gsm_lchan *lchan, u_int8_t link_id)
 	rh->link_id = link_id;
 	msgb_tv_put(msg, RSL_IE_RELEASE_MODE, 0);	/* normal release */
 
+	lchan->state = LCHAN_S_REL_REQ;
+	/* FIXME: start some timer in case we don't receive a REL ACK ? */
+
 	msg->trx = lchan->ts->trx;
 
 	return abis_rsl_sendmsg(msg);
@@ -936,6 +939,9 @@ static int rsl_rx_chan_act_ack(struct msgb *msg)
 	if (rslh->ie_chan != RSL_IE_CHAN_NR)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
+	if (msg->lchan->state != LCHAN_S_ACT_REQ)
+		LOGP(DRSL, LOGL_NOTICE, "%s CHAN ACT ACK, but state %u\n",
+			gsm_lchan_name(msg->lchan), msg->lchan->state);
 	msg->lchan->state = LCHAN_S_ACTIVE;
 
 	dispatch_signal(SS_LCHAN, S_LCHAN_ACTIVATE_ACK, msg->lchan);
@@ -1056,8 +1062,11 @@ static int rsl_rx_meas_res(struct msgb *msg)
 
 	/* check if this channel is actually active */
 	/* FIXME: maybe this check should be way more generic/centralized */
-	if (msg->lchan->state != LCHAN_S_ACTIVE)
+	if (msg->lchan->state != LCHAN_S_ACTIVE) {
+		LOGP(DRSL, LOGL_NOTICE, "%s: MEAS RES for inactive channel\n",
+			gsm_lchan_name(msg->lchan));
 		return 0;
+	}
 
 	memset(mr, 0, sizeof(*mr));
 	mr->lchan = msg->lchan;
@@ -1161,6 +1170,9 @@ static int abis_rsl_rx_dchan(struct msgb *msg)
 		break;
 	case RSL_MT_RF_CHAN_REL_ACK:
 		DEBUGP(DRSL, "%s RF CHANNEL RELEASE ACK\n", ts_name);
+		if (msg->lchan->state != LCHAN_S_REL_REQ)
+			LOGP(DRSL, LOGL_NOTICE, "%s CHAN REL ACK but state=%u\n",
+				gsm_lchan_name(msg->lchan), msg->lchan->state);
 		msg->lchan->state = LCHAN_S_NONE;
 		lchan_free(msg->lchan);
 		break;
@@ -1298,6 +1310,9 @@ static int rsl_rx_chan_rqd(struct msgb *msg)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
+	if (lchan->state != LCHAN_S_NONE)
+		LOGP(DRSL, LOGL_NOTICE, "%s lchan_alloc() returned channel "
+		     "in state %u\n", gsm_lchan_name(lchan), lchan->state);
 	lchan->state = LCHAN_S_ACT_REQ;
 
 	ts_number = lchan->ts->nr;