diff --git a/src/afs/afs_call.c b/src/afs/afs_call.c
index 83dfd37a73..561ad6f7aa 100644
--- a/src/afs/afs_call.c
+++ b/src/afs/afs_call.c
@@ -115,6 +115,8 @@ afs_InitSetup(int preallocs)
 
     memset(afs_zeros, 0, AFS_ZEROS);
 
+    rx_SetBusyChannelError(RX_CALL_TIMEOUT);
+
     /* start RX */
     if(!afscall_set_rxpck_received)
     rx_extraPackets = AFS_NRXPACKETS;	/* smaller # of packets */
diff --git a/src/afs/afs_pag_call.c b/src/afs/afs_pag_call.c
index a0bf096421..d61a91c7ef 100644
--- a/src/afs/afs_pag_call.c
+++ b/src/afs/afs_pag_call.c
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ afspag_Init(afs_int32 nfs_server_addr)
     AFS_GLOCK();
 
     afs_InitStats();
+    rx_SetBusyChannelError(RX_CALL_TIMEOUT);
     rx_Init(htons(7001));
 
     AFS_STATCNT(afs_ResourceInit);