diff --git a/daemon/lightningd.c b/daemon/lightningd.c
index c0635e530..96d801f99 100644
--- a/daemon/lightningd.c
+++ b/daemon/lightningd.c
@@ -233,6 +233,9 @@ static void check_config(struct lightningd_state *dstate)
 			    "Warning: forever-confirms of %u is less than 100!",
 			    dstate->config.forever_confirms);
 
+	if (dstate->config.anchor_confirms == 0)
+		fatal("anchor-confirms must be greater than zero");
+		
 	/* BOLT #2:
 	 *
 	 * a node MUST estimate the deadline for successful redemption