diff --git a/lnbits/core/migrations.py b/lnbits/core/migrations.py
index 890bf51fe..0f14d9df5 100644
--- a/lnbits/core/migrations.py
+++ b/lnbits/core/migrations.py
@@ -135,3 +135,29 @@ async def m003_add_invoice_webhook(db):
 
     await db.execute("ALTER TABLE apipayments ADD COLUMN webhook TEXT")
     await db.execute("ALTER TABLE apipayments ADD COLUMN webhook_status TEXT")
+
+
+async def m004_ensure_fees_are_always_negative(db):
+    """
+    Use abs() so wallet backends don't have to care about the sign of the fees.
+    """
+
+    await db.execute("DROP VIEW balances")
+
+    await db.execute(
+        """
+        CREATE VIEW IF NOT EXISTS balances AS
+        SELECT wallet, COALESCE(SUM(s), 0) AS balance FROM (
+            SELECT wallet, SUM(amount) AS s  -- incoming
+            FROM apipayments
+            WHERE amount > 0 AND pending = 0  -- don't sum pending
+            GROUP BY wallet
+            UNION ALL
+            SELECT wallet, SUM(amount - abs(fee)) AS s  -- outgoing, sum fees
+            FROM apipayments
+            WHERE amount < 0  -- do sum pending
+            GROUP BY wallet
+        )
+        GROUP BY wallet;
+    """
+    )
diff --git a/lnbits/core/models.py b/lnbits/core/models.py
index 9f7b53a32..d0b648c1e 100644
--- a/lnbits/core/models.py
+++ b/lnbits/core/models.py
@@ -145,13 +145,13 @@ class Payment(NamedTuple):
         else:
             status = await WALLET.get_invoice_status(self.checking_id)
 
-        print(
-            f" - checking '{'in' if self.is_in else 'out'}' {self.checking_id}: {status}"
-        )
-
         if self.is_out and status.failed:
+            print(f" - deleting outgoing failed payment {self.checking_id}: {status}")
             await self.delete()
         elif not status.pending:
+            print(
+                f" - marking '{'in' if self.is_in else 'out'}' {self.checking_id} as not pending anymore: {status}"
+            )
             await self.set_pending(status.pending)
 
     async def delete(self) -> None: