This document describes methods and devices for preventing inadvertent idle mode for a UE in multi-node connectivity with a master node and at least one secondary node. In an implementation, the UE includes first and second Media Access Control (MAC) entities for respectively communicating with a master node and a secondary node. The UE starts or restarts at least one data inactivity timer responsive to detecting a communication of data on at least one of the MAC entities. Rather than inadvertently releasing resources of a node as part of the UE transitioning to an idle mode, thereby potentially ceasing connectivity of active communication with the node, the methods and devices described here prevent this release unless connections to both nodes are inactive. By so doing, degradation to a user's experience and the waste of power, computing, or bandwidth resources may be prevented.