diff --git a/contrib/pyln-testing/pyln/testing/utils.py b/contrib/pyln-testing/pyln/testing/utils.py
index 749bfcde2..28889bc6f 100644
--- a/contrib/pyln-testing/pyln/testing/utils.py
+++ b/contrib/pyln-testing/pyln/testing/utils.py
@@ -1102,11 +1102,15 @@ class LightningNode(object):
         invoices = dst.rpc.listinvoices(label)['invoices']
         assert len(invoices) == 1 and invoices[0]['status'] == 'unpaid'
 
+        # Pick first normal channel.
+        scid = [c['short_channel_id'] for c in only_one(self.rpc.listpeers(dst_id)['peers'])['channels']
+                if c['state'] == 'CHANNELD_NORMAL'][0]
+
         routestep = {
             'amount_msat': amt,
             'id': dst_id,
             'delay': 5,
-            'channel': '1x1x1'  # note: can be bogus for 1-hop direct payments
+            'channel': scid
         }
 
         # sendpay is async now
diff --git a/tests/test_closing.py b/tests/test_closing.py
index 66594687d..e2cf90dac 100644
--- a/tests/test_closing.py
+++ b/tests/test_closing.py
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ from utils import (
     account_balance, first_channel_id, closing_fee, TEST_NETWORK,
     scriptpubkey_addr, calc_lease_fee, EXPERIMENTAL_FEATURES,
     check_utxos_channel, anchor_expected, check_coin_moves,
-    check_balance_snaps, mine_funding_to_announce, check_inspect_channel
+    check_balance_snaps, mine_funding_to_announce, check_inspect_channel,
+    first_scid
 )
 
 import os
@@ -1887,7 +1888,7 @@ def test_onchaind_replay(node_factory, bitcoind):
         'amount_msat': 10**8 - 1,
         'id': l2.info['id'],
         'delay': 101,
-        'channel': '1x1x1'
+        'channel': first_scid(l1, l2)
     }
     l1.rpc.sendpay([routestep], rhash, payment_secret=inv['payment_secret'])
     l1.daemon.wait_for_log('sendrawtx exit 0')
@@ -1947,7 +1948,7 @@ def test_onchain_dust_out(node_factory, bitcoind, executor):
         'amount_msat': 1,
         'id': l2.info['id'],
         'delay': 5,
-        'channel': '1x1x1'
+        'channel': first_scid(l1, l2)
     }
 
     l1.rpc.sendpay([routestep], rhash, payment_secret=inv['payment_secret'])
@@ -2019,7 +2020,7 @@ def test_onchain_timeout(node_factory, bitcoind, executor):
         'amount_msat': 10**8 - 1,
         'id': l2.info['id'],
         'delay': 5,
-        'channel': '1x1x1'
+        'channel': first_scid(l1, l2)
     }
 
     l1.rpc.sendpay([routestep], rhash, payment_secret=inv['payment_secret'], groupid=1)
@@ -2505,7 +2506,7 @@ def test_onchain_feechange(node_factory, bitcoind, executor):
         'amount_msat': 10**8 - 1,
         'id': l2.info['id'],
         'delay': 5,
-        'channel': '1x1x1'
+        'channel': first_scid(l1, l2)
     }
 
     executor.submit(l1.rpc.sendpay, [routestep], rhash, payment_secret=inv['payment_secret'])
@@ -2589,7 +2590,7 @@ def test_onchain_all_dust(node_factory, bitcoind, executor):
         'amount_msat': 10**7 - 1,
         'id': l2.info['id'],
         'delay': 5,
-        'channel': '1x1x1'
+        'channel': first_scid(l1, l2)
     }
 
     executor.submit(l1.rpc.sendpay, [routestep], rhash, payment_secret=inv['payment_secret'])
diff --git a/tests/test_connection.py b/tests/test_connection.py
index 477a9775f..906e8c80c 100644
--- a/tests/test_connection.py
+++ b/tests/test_connection.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ from utils import (
     expected_channel_features,
     check_coin_moves, first_channel_id, account_balance, basic_fee,
     scriptpubkey_addr, default_ln_port,
-    EXPERIMENTAL_FEATURES, mine_funding_to_announce
+    EXPERIMENTAL_FEATURES, mine_funding_to_announce, first_scid
 )
 from pyln.testing.utils import SLOW_MACHINE, VALGRIND, EXPERIMENTAL_DUAL_FUND, FUNDAMOUNT
 
@@ -749,7 +749,7 @@ def test_reconnect_sender_add1(node_factory):
     rhash = inv['payment_hash']
     assert only_one(l2.rpc.listinvoices('test_reconnect_sender_add1')['invoices'])['status'] == 'unpaid'
 
-    route = [{'amount_msat': amt, 'id': l2.info['id'], 'delay': 5, 'channel': '1x1x1'}]
+    route = [{'amount_msat': amt, 'id': l2.info['id'], 'delay': 5, 'channel': first_scid(l1, l2)}]
 
     for i in range(0, len(disconnects)):
         with pytest.raises(RpcError):
@@ -788,7 +788,7 @@ def test_reconnect_sender_add(node_factory):
     rhash = inv['payment_hash']
     assert only_one(l2.rpc.listinvoices('testpayment')['invoices'])['status'] == 'unpaid'
 
-    route = [{'amount_msat': amt, 'id': l2.info['id'], 'delay': 5, 'channel': '1x1x1'}]
+    route = [{'amount_msat': amt, 'id': l2.info['id'], 'delay': 5, 'channel': first_scid(l1, l2)}]
 
     # This will send commit, so will reconnect as required.
     l1.rpc.sendpay(route, rhash, payment_secret=inv['payment_secret'])
@@ -822,7 +822,7 @@ def test_reconnect_receiver_add(node_factory):
     rhash = inv['payment_hash']
     assert only_one(l2.rpc.listinvoices('testpayment2')['invoices'])['status'] == 'unpaid'
 
-    route = [{'amount_msat': amt, 'id': l2.info['id'], 'delay': 5, 'channel': '1x1x1'}]
+    route = [{'amount_msat': amt, 'id': l2.info['id'], 'delay': 5, 'channel': first_scid(l1, l2)}]
     l1.rpc.sendpay(route, rhash, payment_secret=inv['payment_secret'])
     for i in range(len(disconnects)):
         l1.daemon.wait_for_log('Already have funding locked in')
@@ -852,7 +852,7 @@ def test_reconnect_receiver_fulfill(node_factory):
     rhash = inv['payment_hash']
     assert only_one(l2.rpc.listinvoices('testpayment2')['invoices'])['status'] == 'unpaid'
 
-    route = [{'amount_msat': amt, 'id': l2.info['id'], 'delay': 5, 'channel': '1x1x1'}]
+    route = [{'amount_msat': amt, 'id': l2.info['id'], 'delay': 5, 'channel': first_scid(l1, l2)}]
     l1.rpc.sendpay(route, rhash, payment_secret=inv['payment_secret'])
     for i in range(len(disconnects)):
         l1.daemon.wait_for_log('Already have funding locked in')
@@ -3480,7 +3480,7 @@ def test_htlc_retransmit_order(node_factory, executor):
         'amount_msat': 1000,
         'id': l2.info['id'],
         'delay': 5,
-        'channel': '1x1x1'  # note: can be bogus for 1-hop direct payments
+        'channel': first_scid(l1, l2)
     }
     for inv in invoices:
         executor.submit(l1.rpc.sendpay, [routestep], inv['payment_hash'], payment_secret=inv['payment_secret'])
@@ -3600,7 +3600,7 @@ def test_upgrade_statickey_onchaind(node_factory, executor, bitcoind):
         'amount_msat': 1,
         'id': l2.info['id'],
         'delay': 5,
-        'channel': '1x1x1'  # note: can be bogus for 1-hop direct payments
+        'channel': first_scid(l1, l2)
     }
     l1.rpc.sendpay([routestep], '00' * 32, payment_secret='00' * 32)
     with pytest.raises(RpcError, match=r'WIRE_INCORRECT_OR_UNKNOWN_PAYMENT_DETAILS'):
@@ -3725,7 +3725,7 @@ def test_upgrade_statickey_fail(node_factory, executor, bitcoind):
                                                'hold-result': 'fail'}])
 
     # This HTLC will fail
-    l1.rpc.sendpay([{'amount_msat': 1000, 'id': l2.info['id'], 'delay': 5, 'channel': '1x1x1'}], '00' * 32, payment_secret='00' * 32)
+    l1.rpc.sendpay([{'amount_msat': 1000, 'id': l2.info['id'], 'delay': 5, 'channel': first_scid(l1, l2)}], '00' * 32, payment_secret='00' * 32)
 
     # Each one should cause one disconnection, no upgrade.
     for d in l1_disconnects + l2_disconnects:
@@ -3801,7 +3801,7 @@ def test_htlc_failed_noclose(node_factory):
         'amount_msat': FUNDAMOUNT * 1000,
         'id': l2.info['id'],
         'delay': 5,
-        'channel': '1x1x1'  # note: can be bogus for 1-hop direct payments
+        'channel': first_scid(l1, l2)
     }
 
     # This fails at channeld
diff --git a/tests/test_pay.py b/tests/test_pay.py
index 7eabe1547..6042ddf8a 100644
--- a/tests/test_pay.py
+++ b/tests/test_pay.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from pyln.proto.onion import TlvPayload
 from pyln.testing.utils import EXPERIMENTAL_DUAL_FUND, FUNDAMOUNT
 from utils import (
     DEVELOPER, wait_for, only_one, sync_blockheight, TIMEOUT,
-    EXPERIMENTAL_FEATURES, VALGRIND, mine_funding_to_announce
+    EXPERIMENTAL_FEATURES, VALGRIND, mine_funding_to_announce, first_scid
 )
 import copy
 import os
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ def test_sendpay(node_factory):
         'amount_msat': amt,
         'id': l2.info['id'],
         'delay': 5,
-        'channel': '1x1x1'
+        'channel': first_scid(l1, l2)
     }
 
     # Insufficient funds.
@@ -671,7 +671,7 @@ def test_sendpay(node_factory):
     inv = l2.rpc.invoice(amt, 'testpayment3', 'desc')
     rhash = inv['payment_hash']
     assert only_one(l2.rpc.listinvoices('testpayment3')['invoices'])['status'] == 'unpaid'
-    routestep = {'amount_msat': amt * 2, 'id': l2.info['id'], 'delay': 5, 'channel': '1x1x1'}
+    routestep = {'amount_msat': amt * 2, 'id': l2.info['id'], 'delay': 5, 'channel': first_scid(l1, l2)}
     l1.rpc.sendpay([routestep], rhash, payment_secret=inv['payment_secret'])
     preimage3 = l1.rpc.waitsendpay(rhash)['payment_preimage']
     assert only_one(l2.rpc.listinvoices('testpayment3')['invoices'])['status'] == 'paid'
diff --git a/tests/utils.py b/tests/utils.py
index 799fbccf4..5d3cfe515 100644
--- a/tests/utils.py
+++ b/tests/utils.py
@@ -412,6 +412,10 @@ def first_channel_id(n1, n2):
     return only_one(only_one(n1.rpc.listpeers(n2.info['id'])['peers'])['channels'])['channel_id']
 
 
+def first_scid(n1, n2):
+    return only_one(only_one(n1.rpc.listpeers(n2.info['id'])['peers'])['channels'])['short_channel_id']
+
+
 def basic_fee(feerate):
     if EXPERIMENTAL_FEATURES or EXPERIMENTAL_DUAL_FUND:
         # option_anchor_outputs