An apparatus and method for allowing emergency calling with a Global System for Mobile (GSM) radiotelephone during temperature extremes includes a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card, a temperature sensor; and a controller that detects when the radiotelephone has a SIM card error, whereupon the controller obtains a temperature measurement from the temperature sensor. If it is found that the temperature measurement is outside of an operating temperature range of the SIM card, the controller permits the radiotelephone to make an emergency calls only.