diff --git a/drivers/tty/n_gsm.c b/drivers/tty/n_gsm.c
index db41b9e5d35e05fd994fd934dc796617488fbb13..53fa1cec49bd4f2bae99a62e1016a96a9d71a801 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/n_gsm.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/n_gsm.c
@@ -1518,7 +1518,7 @@ static void gsm_dlci_t1(struct timer_list *t)
 			dlci->mode = DLCI_MODE_ADM;
 			gsm_dlci_open(dlci);
 		} else {
-			gsm_dlci_close(dlci);
+			gsm_dlci_begin_close(dlci); /* prevent half open link */
 		}
 
 		break;