diff --git a/drivers/tty/n_gsm.c b/drivers/tty/n_gsm.c
index cab30df61196..893d6f502c2e 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/n_gsm.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/n_gsm.c
@@ -1382,7 +1382,7 @@ static void gsm_control_retransmit(struct timer_list *t)
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&gsm->control_lock, flags);
 	ctrl = gsm->pending_cmd;
 	if (ctrl) {
-		if (gsm->cretries == 0) {
+		if (gsm->cretries == 0 || !gsm->dlci[0] || gsm->dlci[0]->dead) {
 			gsm->pending_cmd = NULL;
 			ctrl->error = -ETIMEDOUT;
 			ctrl->done = 1;