diff --git a/lightningd/lightningd.c b/lightningd/lightningd.c
index 156de206a..2aa02f351 100644
--- a/lightningd/lightningd.c
+++ b/lightningd/lightningd.c
@@ -797,8 +797,11 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	/*~ Process any HTLCs we were in the middle of when we exited, now
 	 * that plugins (who might want to know via htlc_accepted hook) are
-	 * active. */
+	 * active.  These will immediately fail, since no peers are connected,
+	 * however partial payments may still be absorbed into htlc_set. */
+	db_begin_transaction(ld->wallet->db);
 	htlcs_resubmit(ld, unconnected_htlcs_in);
+	db_commit_transaction(ld->wallet->db);
 
 	/*~ Activate connect daemon.  Needs to be after the initialization of
 	 * chaintopology, otherwise peers may connect and ask for