diff --git a/electrum/commands.py b/electrum/commands.py
index 4ce345f9a..7d84e45d0 100644
--- a/electrum/commands.py
+++ b/electrum/commands.py
@@ -1140,19 +1140,8 @@ class Commands:
     async def open_channel(self, connection_string, amount, push_amount=0, password=None, wallet: Abstract_Wallet = None):
         funding_sat = satoshis(amount)
         push_sat = satoshis(push_amount)
-        coins = wallet.get_spendable_coins(None)
-        node_id, rest = extract_nodeid(connection_string)
-        funding_tx = wallet.lnworker.mktx_for_open_channel(
-            coins=coins,
-            funding_sat=funding_sat,
-            node_id=node_id,
-            fee_est=None)
-        chan, funding_tx = await wallet.lnworker._open_channel_coroutine(
-            connect_str=connection_string,
-            funding_tx=funding_tx,
-            funding_sat=funding_sat,
-            push_sat=push_sat,
-            password=password)
+        peer = await wallet.lnworker.add_peer(connection_string)
+        chan = await wallet.lnworker.open_channel_with_peer(peer, funding_sat, push_sat, password)
         return chan.funding_outpoint.to_str()
 
     @command('')
diff --git a/electrum/lnworker.py b/electrum/lnworker.py
index bd202ab91..90a41802f 100644
--- a/electrum/lnworker.py
+++ b/electrum/lnworker.py
@@ -1215,16 +1215,32 @@ class LNWallet(LNWorker):
                 self.logger.info('REBROADCASTING CLOSING TX')
                 await self.network.try_broadcasting(force_close_tx, 'force-close')
 
+    @log_exceptions
+    async def open_channel_with_peer(self, peer, funding_sat, push_sat, password):
+        coins = self.wallet.get_spendable_coins(None)
+        node_id = peer.pubkey
+        funding_tx = self.mktx_for_open_channel(
+            coins=coins,
+            funding_sat=funding_sat,
+            node_id=node_id,
+            fee_est=None)
+        chan, funding_tx = await self._open_channel_coroutine(
+            peer=peer,
+            funding_tx=funding_tx,
+            funding_sat=funding_sat,
+            push_sat=push_sat,
+            password=password)
+        return chan
+
     @log_exceptions
     async def _open_channel_coroutine(
             self, *,
-            connect_str: str,
+            peer: Peer,
             funding_tx: PartialTransaction,
             funding_sat: int,
             push_sat: int,
             password: Optional[str]) -> Tuple[Channel, PartialTransaction]:
 
-        peer = await self.add_peer(connect_str)
         coro = peer.channel_establishment_flow(
             funding_tx=funding_tx,
             funding_sat=funding_sat,
@@ -1315,8 +1331,14 @@ class LNWallet(LNWorker):
                      funding_sat: int, push_amt_sat: int, password: str = None) -> Tuple[Channel, PartialTransaction]:
         if funding_sat > self.config.LIGHTNING_MAX_FUNDING_SAT:
             raise Exception(_("Requested channel capacity is over maximum."))
+
+        fut = asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(self.add_peer(connect_str), self.network.asyncio_loop)
+        try:
+            peer = fut.result()
+        except concurrent.futures.TimeoutError:
+            raise Exception(_("add peer timed out"))
         coro = self._open_channel_coroutine(
-            connect_str=connect_str, funding_tx=funding_tx, funding_sat=funding_sat,
+            peer=peer, funding_tx=funding_tx, funding_sat=funding_sat,
             push_sat=push_amt_sat, password=password)
         fut = asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(coro, self.network.asyncio_loop)
         try: