diff --git a/src/tests/networkSetup.ts b/src/tests/networkSetup.ts
index 9f30faa9..7cdce411 100644
--- a/src/tests/networkSetup.ts
+++ b/src/tests/networkSetup.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,13 @@ export const setupNetwork = async (): Promise<ChainTools> => {
         await alice.ConnectPeer({ pubkey: '0232842d81b2423df97aa8a264f8c0811610a736af65afe2e145279f285625c1e4', host: "carol:9735" })
         await alice.ConnectPeer({ pubkey: '027c50fde118af534ff27e59da722422d2f3e06505c31e94c1b40c112c48a83b1c', host: "dave:9735" })
     }, 10, 8000)
+    await tryUntil<void>(async i => {
+        const { channels } = await alice.ListChannels()
+        if (channels.some(c => c.active)) {
+            return
+        }
+        throw new Error("alice has no active channels")
+    }, 10, 6000)
     await tryUntil<void>(async i => {
         const peers = await bob.ListPeers()
         if (peers.peers.length > 0) {
@@ -31,6 +38,13 @@ export const setupNetwork = async (): Promise<ChainTools> => {
         }
         await bob.ConnectPeer({ pubkey: '0232842d81b2423df97aa8a264f8c0811610a736af65afe2e145279f285625c1e4', host: "carol:9735" })
     }, 10, 8000)
+    await tryUntil<void>(async i => {
+        const { channels } = await bob.ListChannels()
+        if (channels.some(c => c.active)) {
+            return
+        }
+        throw new Error("bob has no active channels")
+    }, 10, 6000)
 
     await tryUntil<void>(async i => {
         const info = await alice.GetInfo()