diff --git a/src/main/drivers/serial_softserial.c b/src/main/drivers/serial_softserial.c
index aaf0b2a212..6789d70ce1 100644
--- a/src/main/drivers/serial_softserial.c
+++ b/src/main/drivers/serial_softserial.c
@@ -254,9 +254,10 @@ serialPort_t *openSoftSerial(softSerialPortIndex_e portIndex, serialReceiveCallb
     if (options & SERIAL_BIDIR) {
         // If RX and TX pins are both assigned, we CAN use either with a timer.
         // However, for consistency with hardware UARTs, we only use TX pin,
-        // and this pin must have a timer.
-        if (!timerTx)
+        // and this pin must have a timer, and it should not be N-Channel.
+        if (!timerTx || (timerTx->output & TIMER_OUTPUT_N_CHANNEL)) {
             return NULL;
+        }
 
         softSerial->timerHardware = timerTx;
         softSerial->txIO = txIO;
@@ -264,9 +265,10 @@ serialPort_t *openSoftSerial(softSerialPortIndex_e portIndex, serialReceiveCallb
         IOInit(txIO, OWNER_SERIAL_TX, RESOURCE_INDEX(portIndex + RESOURCE_SOFT_OFFSET));
     } else {
         if (mode & MODE_RX) {
-            // Need a pin & a timer on RX
-            if (!(tagRx && timerRx))
+            // Need a pin & a timer on RX. Channel should not be N-Channel.
+            if (!timerRx || (timerRx->output & TIMER_OUTPUT_N_CHANNEL)) {
                 return NULL;
+            }
 
             softSerial->rxIO = rxIO;
             softSerial->timerHardware = timerRx;