diff --git a/cashu/core/base.py b/cashu/core/base.py
index 63d7f5c..e30168b 100644
--- a/cashu/core/base.py
+++ b/cashu/core/base.py
@@ -153,7 +153,11 @@ class CheckRequest(BaseModel):
     proofs: List[Proof]
 
 
+class CheckInternalRequest(BaseModel):
+    pr: str
+
+
 class MeltRequest(BaseModel):
     proofs: List[Proof]
-    amount: int
+    amount: int = None  # deprecated
     invoice: str
diff --git a/cashu/core/settings.py b/cashu/core/settings.py
index 4337e9b..377e88a 100644
--- a/cashu/core/settings.py
+++ b/cashu/core/settings.py
@@ -46,4 +46,4 @@ LNBITS_ENDPOINT = env.str("LNBITS_ENDPOINT", default=None)
 LNBITS_KEY = env.str("LNBITS_KEY", default=None)
 
 MAX_ORDER = 64
-VERSION = "0.2.3"
+VERSION = "0.2.4"
diff --git a/cashu/lightning/lnbits.py b/cashu/lightning/lnbits.py
index f174f2d..ed655bf 100644
--- a/cashu/lightning/lnbits.py
+++ b/cashu/lightning/lnbits.py
@@ -87,6 +87,8 @@ class LNbitsWallet(Wallet):
         except:
             error_message = r.json()["detail"]
             return PaymentResponse(None, None, None, None, error_message)
+        if r.status_code > 299:
+            return PaymentResponse(None, None, None, None, f"HTTP status: {r.reason}")
         if "detail" in r.json():
             return PaymentResponse(None, None, None, None, r.json()["detail"])
         ok, checking_id, fee_msat, preimage, error_message = (
diff --git a/cashu/mint/ledger.py b/cashu/mint/ledger.py
index 12c610d..97c621f 100644
--- a/cashu/mint/ledger.py
+++ b/cashu/mint/ledger.py
@@ -3,11 +3,13 @@ Implementation of https://gist.github.com/phyro/935badc682057f418842c72961cf096c
 """
 
 import hashlib
+import math
 from inspect import signature
 from signal import signal
 from typing import List, Set
 
 import cashu.core.b_dhke as b_dhke
+import cashu.core.bolt11 as bolt11
 from cashu.core.base import BlindedMessage, BlindedSignature, Invoice, Proof
 from cashu.core.db import Database
 from cashu.core.helpers import fee_reserve
@@ -197,7 +199,7 @@ class Ledger:
 
     async def _pay_lightning_invoice(self, invoice: str, amount: int):
         """Returns an invoice from the Lightning backend."""
-        error, balance = await WALLET.status()
+        error, _ = await WALLET.status()
         if error:
             raise Exception(f"Lightning wallet not responding: {error}")
         ok, checking_id, fee_msat, preimage, error_message = await WALLET.pay_invoice(
@@ -250,10 +252,16 @@ class Ledger:
         ]
         return promises
 
-    async def melt(self, proofs: List[Proof], amount: int, invoice: str):
+    async def melt(self, proofs: List[Proof], invoice: str):
         """Invalidates proofs and pays a Lightning invoice."""
-        # if not LIGHTNING:
+        # Verify proofs
+        if not all([self._verify_proof(p) for p in proofs]):
+            raise Exception("could not verify proofs.")
+
         total = sum([p["amount"] for p in proofs])
+        invoice_obj = bolt11.decode(invoice)
+        amount = math.ceil(invoice_obj.amount_msat / 1000)
+
         # check that lightning fees are included
         assert total + fee_reserve(amount * 1000) >= amount, Exception(
             "provided proofs not enough for Lightning payment."
diff --git a/cashu/mint/router.py b/cashu/mint/router.py
index bb91695..7a0378c 100644
--- a/cashu/mint/router.py
+++ b/cashu/mint/router.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ async def melt(payload: MeltRequest):
     """
     Requests tokens to be destroyed and sent out via Lightning.
     """
-    ok, preimage = await ledger.melt(payload.proofs, payload.amount, payload.invoice)
+    ok, preimage = await ledger.melt(payload.proofs, payload.invoice)
     resp = GetMeltResponse(paid=ok, preimage=preimage)
     return resp
 
diff --git a/cashu/wallet/cli.py b/cashu/wallet/cli.py
index 84a9a92..f53eb78 100755
--- a/cashu/wallet/cli.py
+++ b/cashu/wallet/cli.py
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ async def pay(ctx, invoice: str):
         print("Error: Balance too low.")
         return
     _, send_proofs = await wallet.split_to_send(wallet.proofs, amount)
-    await wallet.pay_lightning(send_proofs, amount, invoice)
+    await wallet.pay_lightning(send_proofs, invoice)
     wallet.status()
 
 
diff --git a/cashu/wallet/wallet.py b/cashu/wallet/wallet.py
index e7f97bb..cfd6a3a 100644
--- a/cashu/wallet/wallet.py
+++ b/cashu/wallet/wallet.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import cashu.core.b_dhke as b_dhke
 from cashu.core.base import (
     BlindedMessage,
     BlindedSignature,
+    CheckInternalRequest,
     CheckRequest,
     MeltRequest,
     MintRequest,
@@ -210,8 +211,18 @@ class LedgerAPI:
 
         return return_dict
 
-    async def pay_lightning(self, proofs: List[Proof], amount: int, invoice: str):
-        payload = MeltRequest(proofs=proofs, amount=amount, invoice=invoice)
+    async def check_internal(self, payment_request: str):
+        """Checks whether the Lightning payment is internal."""
+        payload = CheckInternalRequest(pr=payment_request)
+        return_dict = requests.post(
+            self.url + "/checkinternal",
+            json=payload.dict(),
+        ).json()
+
+        return return_dict
+
+    async def pay_lightning(self, proofs: List[Proof], invoice: str):
+        payload = MeltRequest(proofs=proofs, invoice=invoice)
         return_dict = requests.post(
             self.url + "/melt",
             json=payload.dict(),
@@ -283,9 +294,9 @@ class Wallet(LedgerAPI):
             await invalidate_proof(proof, db=self.db)
         return frst_proofs, scnd_proofs
 
-    async def pay_lightning(self, proofs: List[Proof], amount: int, invoice: str):
+    async def pay_lightning(self, proofs: List[Proof], invoice: str):
         """Pays a lightning invoice"""
-        status = await super().pay_lightning(proofs, amount, invoice)
+        status = await super().pay_lightning(proofs, invoice)
         if status["paid"] == True:
             await self.invalidate(proofs)
         else:
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index d5a6abc..c16d54e 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "cashu"
-version = "0.2.3"
+version = "0.2.4"
 description = "Ecash wallet and mint."
 authors = ["calle <callebtc@protonmail.com>"]
 license = "MIT"
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 5c04243..050b1d5 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ entry_points = {"console_scripts": ["cashu = cashu.wallet.cli:cli"]}
 
 setuptools.setup(
     name="cashu",
-    version="0.2.3",
+    version="0.2.4",
     description="Ecash wallet and mint with Bitcoin Lightning support",
     long_description=long_description,
     long_description_content_type="text/markdown",