diff --git a/lightningd/pay.c b/lightningd/pay.c
index 62910de22..778f955ef 100644
--- a/lightningd/pay.c
+++ b/lightningd/pay.c
@@ -1000,7 +1000,7 @@ send_payment_core(struct lightningd *ld,
 		return offer_err;
 
 	channel = active_channel_by_id(ld, &first_hop->node_id, NULL);
-	if (!channel) {
+	if (!channel || !channel_can_add_htlc(channel)) {
 		struct json_stream *data
 			= json_stream_fail(cmd, PAY_TRY_OTHER_ROUTE,
 					   "No connection to first "