A method for operating a relay node in a wireless communication system. The method includes communicating, by the relay node, with a base station using a specific subframe for the relay node only; detecting, by the relay node, a problem with a connection between the relay node and the base station; starting, by the relay node, a timer upon detecting the problem with the connection between the relay node and the base station; and releasing, by the relay node, a restriction of using the specific subframe for the relay node only, if the started timer expires. The problem with the connection between the relay node and the base station is associated with a radio link failure.