diff --git a/channeldb/db.go b/channeldb/db.go
index 51f3fe9aa..4b9476c37 100644
--- a/channeldb/db.go
+++ b/channeldb/db.go
@@ -268,6 +268,9 @@ func createChannelDB(dbPath string) error {
 		if _, err := edges.CreateBucket(channelPointBucket); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+		if _, err := edges.CreateBucket(zombieBucket); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 
 		graphMeta, err := tx.CreateBucket(graphMetaBucket)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/channeldb/error.go b/channeldb/error.go
index c05481063..e0e754522 100644
--- a/channeldb/error.go
+++ b/channeldb/error.go
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 package channeldb
 
-import "fmt"
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+)
 
 var (
 	// ErrNoChanDBExists is returned when a channel bucket hasn't been
@@ -79,6 +82,10 @@ var (
 	// can't be found.
 	ErrEdgeNotFound = fmt.Errorf("edge not found")
 
+	// ErrZombieEdge is an error returned when we attempt to look up an edge
+	// but it is marked as a zombie within the zombie index.
+	ErrZombieEdge = errors.New("edge marked as zombie")
+
 	// ErrEdgeAlreadyExist is returned when edge with specific
 	// channel id can't be added because it already exist.
 	ErrEdgeAlreadyExist = fmt.Errorf("edge already exist")
diff --git a/channeldb/graph.go b/channeldb/graph.go
index 2d924d94f..11a875fc9 100644
--- a/channeldb/graph.go
+++ b/channeldb/graph.go
@@ -106,6 +106,17 @@ var (
 	// maps: outPoint -> chanID
 	channelPointBucket = []byte("chan-index")
 
+	// zombieBucket is a sub-bucket of the main edgeBucket bucket
+	// responsible for maintaining an index of zombie channels. Each entry
+	// exists within the bucket as follows:
+	//
+	// maps: chanID -> pubKey1 || pubKey2
+	//
+	// The chanID represents the channel ID of the edge that is marked as a
+	// zombie and is used as the key, which maps to the public keys of the
+	// edge's participants.
+	zombieBucket = []byte("zombie-index")
+
 	// graphMetaBucket is a top-level bucket which stores various meta-deta
 	// related to the on-disk channel graph. Data stored in this bucket
 	// includes the block to which the graph has been synced to, the total
@@ -123,9 +134,6 @@ var (
 	// case we'll remove all entries from the prune log with a block height
 	// that no longer exists.
 	pruneLogBucket = []byte("prune-log")
-
-	edgeBloomKey = []byte("edge-bloom")
-	nodeBloomKey = []byte("node-bloom")
 )
 
 const (
@@ -587,17 +595,20 @@ func (c *ChannelGraph) addChannelEdge(tx *bbolt.Tx, edge *ChannelEdgeInfo) error
 // HasChannelEdge returns true if the database knows of a channel edge with the
 // passed channel ID, and false otherwise. If an edge with that ID is found
 // within the graph, then two time stamps representing the last time the edge
-// was updated for both directed edges are returned along with the boolean.
-func (c *ChannelGraph) HasChannelEdge(chanID uint64) (time.Time, time.Time, bool, error) {
-	// TODO(roasbeef): check internal bloom filter first
+// was updated for both directed edges are returned along with the boolean. If
+// it is not found, then the zombie index is checked and its result is returned
+// as the second boolean.
+func (c *ChannelGraph) HasChannelEdge(chanID uint64,
+) (time.Time, time.Time, bool, bool, error) {
 
 	var (
 		node1UpdateTime time.Time
 		node2UpdateTime time.Time
 		exists          bool
+		isZombie        bool
 	)
 
-	if err := c.db.View(func(tx *bbolt.Tx) error {
+	err := c.db.View(func(tx *bbolt.Tx) error {
 		edges := tx.Bucket(edgeBucket)
 		if edges == nil {
 			return ErrGraphNoEdgesFound
@@ -609,12 +620,21 @@ func (c *ChannelGraph) HasChannelEdge(chanID uint64) (time.Time, time.Time, bool
 
 		var channelID [8]byte
 		byteOrder.PutUint64(channelID[:], chanID)
+
+		// If the edge doesn't exist, then we'll also check our zombie
+		// index.
 		if edgeIndex.Get(channelID[:]) == nil {
 			exists = false
+			zombieIndex := edges.Bucket(zombieBucket)
+			if zombieIndex != nil {
+				isZombie, _, _ = isZombieEdge(zombieIndex, chanID)
+			}
+
 			return nil
 		}
 
 		exists = true
+		isZombie = false
 
 		// If the channel has been found in the graph, then retrieve
 		// the edges itself so we can return the last updated
@@ -640,11 +660,9 @@ func (c *ChannelGraph) HasChannelEdge(chanID uint64) (time.Time, time.Time, bool
 		}
 
 		return nil
-	}); err != nil {
-		return time.Time{}, time.Time{}, exists, err
-	}
+	})
 
-	return node1UpdateTime, node2UpdateTime, exists, nil
+	return node1UpdateTime, node2UpdateTime, exists, isZombie, err
 }
 
 // UpdateChannelEdge retrieves and update edge of the graph database. Method
@@ -720,6 +738,10 @@ func (c *ChannelGraph) PruneGraph(spentOutputs []*wire.OutPoint,
 		if nodes == nil {
 			return ErrSourceNodeNotSet
 		}
+		zombieIndex, err := edges.CreateBucketIfNotExists(zombieBucket)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 
 		// For each of the outpoints that have been spent within the
 		// block, we attempt to delete them from the graph as if that
@@ -753,7 +775,8 @@ func (c *ChannelGraph) PruneGraph(spentOutputs []*wire.OutPoint,
 			// a channel. If no error is returned, then a channel
 			// was successfully pruned.
 			err = delChannelByEdge(
-				edges, edgeIndex, chanIndex, nodes, chanPoint,
+				edges, edgeIndex, chanIndex, zombieIndex, nodes,
+				chanPoint, false,
 			)
 			if err != nil && err != ErrEdgeNotFound {
 				return err
@@ -963,6 +986,10 @@ func (c *ChannelGraph) DisconnectBlockAtHeight(height uint32) ([]*ChannelEdgeInf
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+		zombieIndex, err := edges.CreateBucketIfNotExists(zombieBucket)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 		nodes, err := tx.CreateBucketIfNotExists(nodeBucket)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -980,7 +1007,8 @@ func (c *ChannelGraph) DisconnectBlockAtHeight(height uint32) ([]*ChannelEdgeInf
 				return err
 			}
 			err = delChannelByEdge(
-				edges, edgeIndex, chanIndex, nodes, &edgeInfo.ChannelPoint,
+				edges, edgeIndex, chanIndex, zombieIndex, nodes,
+				&edgeInfo.ChannelPoint, false,
 			)
 			if err != nil && err != ErrEdgeNotFound {
 				return err
@@ -1067,8 +1095,9 @@ func (c *ChannelGraph) PruneTip() (*chainhash.Hash, uint32, error) {
 }
 
 // DeleteChannelEdge removes an edge from the database as identified by its
-// funding outpoint. If the edge does not exist within the database, then
-// ErrEdgeNotFound will be returned.
+// funding outpoint and also marks it as a zombie. This ensures that we're
+// unable to re-add this to our database once again. If the edge does not exist
+// within the database, then ErrEdgeNotFound will be returned.
 func (c *ChannelGraph) DeleteChannelEdge(chanPoint *wire.OutPoint) error {
 	// TODO(roasbeef): possibly delete from node bucket if node has no more
 	// channels
@@ -1088,19 +1117,22 @@ func (c *ChannelGraph) DeleteChannelEdge(chanPoint *wire.OutPoint) error {
 		if edgeIndex == nil {
 			return ErrEdgeNotFound
 		}
-
 		chanIndex := edges.Bucket(channelPointBucket)
 		if chanIndex == nil {
 			return ErrEdgeNotFound
 		}
-
 		nodes := tx.Bucket(nodeBucket)
 		if nodes == nil {
 			return ErrGraphNodeNotFound
 		}
+		zombieIndex, err := edges.CreateBucketIfNotExists(zombieBucket)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 
 		return delChannelByEdge(
-			edges, edgeIndex, chanIndex, nodes, chanPoint,
+			edges, edgeIndex, chanIndex, zombieIndex, nodes,
+			chanPoint, true,
 		)
 	})
 }
@@ -1571,8 +1603,9 @@ func delEdgeUpdateIndexEntry(edgesBucket *bbolt.Bucket, chanID uint64,
 	return nil
 }
 
-func delChannelByEdge(edges *bbolt.Bucket, edgeIndex *bbolt.Bucket,
-	chanIndex *bbolt.Bucket, nodes *bbolt.Bucket, chanPoint *wire.OutPoint) error {
+func delChannelByEdge(edges, edgeIndex, chanIndex, zombieIndex,
+	nodes *bbolt.Bucket, chanPoint *wire.OutPoint, isZombie bool) error {
+
 	var b bytes.Buffer
 	if err := writeOutpoint(&b, chanPoint); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -1630,12 +1663,29 @@ func delChannelByEdge(edges *bbolt.Bucket, edgeIndex *bbolt.Bucket,
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Finally, with the edge data deleted, we can purge the information
-	// from the two edge indexes.
+	// With the edge data deleted, we can purge the information from the two
+	// edge indexes.
 	if err := edgeIndex.Delete(chanID); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	return chanIndex.Delete(b.Bytes())
+	if err := chanIndex.Delete(b.Bytes()); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// Finally, we'll mark the edge as a zombie within our index if it's
+	// being removed due to the channel becoming a zombie. We do this to
+	// ensure we don't store unnecessary data for spent channels.
+	if !isZombie {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	var pubKey1, pubKey2 [33]byte
+	copy(pubKey1[:], nodeKeys[:33])
+	copy(pubKey2[:], nodeKeys[33:])
+
+	return markEdgeZombie(
+		zombieIndex, byteOrder.Uint64(chanID), pubKey1, pubKey2,
+	)
 }
 
 // UpdateEdgePolicy updates the edge routing policy for a single directed edge
@@ -2497,7 +2547,8 @@ func (c *ChannelEdgePolicy) Signature() (*btcec.Signature, error) {
 // found, then ErrEdgeNotFound is returned. A struct which houses the general
 // information for the channel itself is returned as well as two structs that
 // contain the routing policies for the channel in either direction.
-func (c *ChannelGraph) FetchChannelEdgesByOutpoint(op *wire.OutPoint) (*ChannelEdgeInfo, *ChannelEdgePolicy, *ChannelEdgePolicy, error) {
+func (c *ChannelGraph) FetchChannelEdgesByOutpoint(op *wire.OutPoint,
+) (*ChannelEdgeInfo, *ChannelEdgePolicy, *ChannelEdgePolicy, error) {
 
 	var (
 		edgeInfo *ChannelEdgeInfo
@@ -2575,7 +2626,12 @@ func (c *ChannelGraph) FetchChannelEdgesByOutpoint(op *wire.OutPoint) (*ChannelE
 // ErrEdgeNotFound is returned. A struct which houses the general information
 // for the channel itself is returned as well as two structs that contain the
 // routing policies for the channel in either direction.
-func (c *ChannelGraph) FetchChannelEdgesByID(chanID uint64) (*ChannelEdgeInfo, *ChannelEdgePolicy, *ChannelEdgePolicy, error) {
+//
+// ErrZombieEdge an be returned if the edge is currently marked as a zombie
+// within the database. In this case, the ChannelEdgePolicy's will be nil, and
+// the ChannelEdgeInfo will only include the public keys of each node.
+func (c *ChannelGraph) FetchChannelEdgesByID(chanID uint64,
+) (*ChannelEdgeInfo, *ChannelEdgePolicy, *ChannelEdgePolicy, error) {
 
 	var (
 		edgeInfo  *ChannelEdgeInfo
@@ -2606,13 +2662,48 @@ func (c *ChannelGraph) FetchChannelEdgesByID(chanID uint64) (*ChannelEdgeInfo, *
 
 		byteOrder.PutUint64(channelID[:], chanID)
 
+		// Now, attempt to fetch edge.
 		edge, err := fetchChanEdgeInfo(edgeIndex, channelID[:])
+
+		// If it doesn't exist, we'll quickly check our zombie index to
+		// see if we've previously marked it as so.
+		if err == ErrEdgeNotFound {
+			// If the zombie index doesn't exist, or the edge is not
+			// marked as a zombie within it, then we'll return the
+			// original ErrEdgeNotFound error.
+			zombieIndex := edges.Bucket(zombieBucket)
+			if zombieIndex == nil {
+				return ErrEdgeNotFound
+			}
+
+			isZombie, pubKey1, pubKey2 := isZombieEdge(
+				zombieIndex, chanID,
+			)
+			if !isZombie {
+				return ErrEdgeNotFound
+			}
+
+			// Otherwise, the edge is marked as a zombie, so we'll
+			// populate the edge info with the public keys of each
+			// party as this is the only information we have about
+			// it and return an error signaling so.
+			edgeInfo = &ChannelEdgeInfo{
+				NodeKey1Bytes: pubKey1,
+				NodeKey2Bytes: pubKey2,
+			}
+			return ErrZombieEdge
+		}
+
+		// Otherwise, we'll just return the error if any.
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+
 		edgeInfo = &edge
 		edgeInfo.db = c.db
 
+		// Then we'll attempt to fetch the accompanying policies of this
+		// edge.
 		e1, e2, err := fetchChanEdgePolicies(
 			edgeIndex, edges, nodes, channelID[:], c.db,
 		)
@@ -2624,6 +2715,9 @@ func (c *ChannelGraph) FetchChannelEdgesByID(chanID uint64) (*ChannelEdgeInfo, *
 		policy2 = e2
 		return nil
 	})
+	if err == ErrZombieEdge {
+		return edgeInfo, nil, nil, err
+	}
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, nil, err
 	}
@@ -2785,6 +2879,109 @@ func (c *ChannelGraph) NewChannelEdgePolicy() *ChannelEdgePolicy {
 	return &ChannelEdgePolicy{db: c.db}
 }
 
+// MarkEdgeZombie marks an edge as a zombie within the graph's zombie index.
+// The public keys should represent the node public keys of the two parties
+// involved in the edge.
+func (c *ChannelGraph) MarkEdgeZombie(chanID uint64, pubKey1,
+	pubKey2 [33]byte) error {
+
+	return c.db.Batch(func(tx *bbolt.Tx) error {
+		edges := tx.Bucket(edgeBucket)
+		if edges == nil {
+			return ErrGraphNoEdgesFound
+		}
+		zombieIndex, err := edges.CreateBucketIfNotExists(zombieBucket)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return markEdgeZombie(zombieIndex, chanID, pubKey1, pubKey2)
+	})
+}
+
+// markEdgeZombie marks an edge as a zombie within our zombie index. The public
+// keys should represent the node public keys of the two parties involved in the
+// edge.
+func markEdgeZombie(zombieIndex *bbolt.Bucket, chanID uint64, pubKey1,
+	pubKey2 [33]byte) error {
+
+	var k [8]byte
+	byteOrder.PutUint64(k[:], chanID)
+
+	var v [66]byte
+	copy(v[:33], pubKey1[:])
+	copy(v[33:], pubKey2[:])
+
+	return zombieIndex.Put(k[:], v[:])
+}
+
+// MarkEdgeLive clears an edge from our zombie index, deeming it as live.
+func (c *ChannelGraph) MarkEdgeLive(chanID uint64) error {
+	return c.db.Batch(func(tx *bbolt.Tx) error {
+		edges := tx.Bucket(edgeBucket)
+		if edges == nil {
+			return ErrGraphNoEdgesFound
+		}
+		zombieIndex := edges.Bucket(zombieBucket)
+		if zombieIndex == nil {
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		var k [8]byte
+		byteOrder.PutUint64(k[:], chanID)
+		return zombieIndex.Delete(k[:])
+	})
+}
+
+// IsZombieEdge returns whether the edge is considered zombie. If it is a
+// zombie, then the two node public keys corresponding to this edge are also
+// returned.
+func (c *ChannelGraph) IsZombieEdge(chanID uint64) (bool, [33]byte, [33]byte) {
+	var (
+		isZombie         bool
+		pubKey1, pubKey2 [33]byte
+	)
+
+	err := c.db.View(func(tx *bbolt.Tx) error {
+		edges := tx.Bucket(edgeBucket)
+		if edges == nil {
+			return ErrGraphNoEdgesFound
+		}
+		zombieIndex := edges.Bucket(zombieBucket)
+		if zombieIndex == nil {
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		isZombie, pubKey1, pubKey2 = isZombieEdge(zombieIndex, chanID)
+		return nil
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, [33]byte{}, [33]byte{}
+	}
+
+	return isZombie, pubKey1, pubKey2
+}
+
+// isZombieEdge returns whether an entry exists for the given channel in the
+// zombie index. If an entry exists, then the two node public keys corresponding
+// to this edge are also returned.
+func isZombieEdge(zombieIndex *bbolt.Bucket,
+	chanID uint64) (bool, [33]byte, [33]byte) {
+
+	var k [8]byte
+	byteOrder.PutUint64(k[:], chanID)
+
+	v := zombieIndex.Get(k[:])
+	if v == nil {
+		return false, [33]byte{}, [33]byte{}
+	}
+
+	var pubKey1, pubKey2 [33]byte
+	copy(pubKey1[:], v[:33])
+	copy(pubKey2[:], v[33:])
+
+	return true, pubKey1, pubKey2
+}
+
 func putLightningNode(nodeBucket *bbolt.Bucket, aliasBucket *bbolt.Bucket,
 	updateIndex *bbolt.Bucket, node *LightningNode) error {
 
diff --git a/channeldb/graph_test.go b/channeldb/graph_test.go
index 378391ec6..f8df64487 100644
--- a/channeldb/graph_test.go
+++ b/channeldb/graph_test.go
@@ -374,6 +374,10 @@ func TestEdgeInsertionDeletion(t *testing.T) {
 	if _, _, _, err := graph.FetchChannelEdgesByID(chanID); err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("channel edge not deleted")
 	}
+	isZombie, _, _ := graph.IsZombieEdge(chanID)
+	if !isZombie {
+		t.Fatal("channel edge not marked as zombie")
+	}
 
 	// Finally, attempt to delete a (now) non-existent edge within the
 	// database, this should result in an error.
@@ -522,29 +526,38 @@ func TestDisconnectBlockAtHeight(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// The two first edges should be removed from the db.
-	_, _, has, err := graph.HasChannelEdge(edgeInfo.ChannelID)
+	_, _, has, isZombie, err := graph.HasChannelEdge(edgeInfo.ChannelID)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unable to query for edge: %v", err)
 	}
 	if has {
 		t.Fatalf("edge1 was not pruned from the graph")
 	}
-	_, _, has, err = graph.HasChannelEdge(edgeInfo2.ChannelID)
+	if isZombie {
+		t.Fatal("reorged edge1 should not be marked as zombie")
+	}
+	_, _, has, isZombie, err = graph.HasChannelEdge(edgeInfo2.ChannelID)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unable to query for edge: %v", err)
 	}
 	if has {
 		t.Fatalf("edge2 was not pruned from the graph")
 	}
+	if isZombie {
+		t.Fatal("reorged edge2 should not be marked as zombie")
+	}
 
 	// Edge 3 should not be removed.
-	_, _, has, err = graph.HasChannelEdge(edgeInfo3.ChannelID)
+	_, _, has, isZombie, err = graph.HasChannelEdge(edgeInfo3.ChannelID)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unable to query for edge: %v", err)
 	}
 	if !has {
 		t.Fatalf("edge3 was pruned from the graph")
 	}
+	if isZombie {
+		t.Fatal("edge3 was marked as zombie")
+	}
 
 	// PruneTip should be set to the blockHash we specified for the block
 	// at height 155.
@@ -755,12 +768,16 @@ func TestEdgeInfoUpdates(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Check for existence of the edge within the database, it should be
 	// found.
-	_, _, found, err := graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID)
+	_, _, found, isZombie, err := graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unable to query for edge: %v", err)
-	} else if !found {
+	}
+	if !found {
 		t.Fatalf("graph should have of inserted edge")
 	}
+	if isZombie {
+		t.Fatal("live edge should not be marked as zombie")
+	}
 
 	// We should also be able to retrieve the channelID only knowing the
 	// channel point of the channel.
@@ -2786,6 +2803,67 @@ func TestEdgePolicyMissingMaxHtcl(t *testing.T) {
 	assertEdgeInfoEqual(t, dbEdgeInfo, edgeInfo)
 }
 
+// TestGraphZombieIndex ensures that we can mark edges correctly as zombie/live.
+func TestGraphZombieIndex(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// We'll start by creating our test graph along with a test edge.
+	db, cleanUp, err := makeTestDB()
+	defer cleanUp()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable to create test database: %v", err)
+	}
+	graph := db.ChannelGraph()
+
+	node1, err := createTestVertex(db)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable to create test vertex: %v", err)
+	}
+	node2, err := createTestVertex(db)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable to create test vertex: %v", err)
+	}
+	edge, _, _ := createChannelEdge(db, node1, node2)
+
+	// If the graph is not aware of the edge, then it should not be a
+	// zombie.
+	isZombie, _, _ := graph.IsZombieEdge(edge.ChannelID)
+	if isZombie {
+		t.Fatal("expected edge to not be marked as zombie")
+	}
+
+	// If we mark the edge as a zombie, then we should expect to see it
+	// within the index.
+	err = graph.MarkEdgeZombie(
+		edge.ChannelID, node1.PubKeyBytes, node2.PubKeyBytes,
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable to mark edge as zombie: %v", err)
+	}
+	isZombie, pubKey1, pubKey2 := graph.IsZombieEdge(edge.ChannelID)
+	if !isZombie {
+		t.Fatal("expected edge to be marked as zombie")
+	}
+	if pubKey1 != node1.PubKeyBytes {
+		t.Fatalf("expected pubKey1 %x, got %x", node1.PubKeyBytes,
+			pubKey1)
+	}
+	if pubKey2 != node2.PubKeyBytes {
+		t.Fatalf("expected pubKey2 %x, got %x", node2.PubKeyBytes,
+			pubKey2)
+	}
+
+	// Similarly, if we mark the same edge as live, we should no longer see
+	// it within the index.
+	if err := graph.MarkEdgeLive(edge.ChannelID); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable to mark edge as live: %v", err)
+	}
+	isZombie, _, _ = graph.IsZombieEdge(edge.ChannelID)
+	if isZombie {
+		t.Fatal("expected edge to not be marked as zombie")
+	}
+}
+
 // compareNodes is used to compare two LightningNodes while excluding the
 // Features struct, which cannot be compared as the semantics for reserializing
 // the featuresMap have not been defined.
diff --git a/discovery/gossiper.go b/discovery/gossiper.go
index e35a19299..171b04aba 100644
--- a/discovery/gossiper.go
+++ b/discovery/gossiper.go
@@ -1571,8 +1571,9 @@ func (d *AuthenticatedGossiper) processNetworkAnnouncement(
 			return nil
 		}
 
-		// At this point, we'll now ask the router if this is a stale
-		// update. If so we can skip all the processing below.
+		// At this point, we'll now ask the router if this is a
+		// zombie/known edge. If so we can skip all the processing
+		// below.
 		if d.cfg.Router.IsKnownEdge(msg.ShortChannelID) {
 			nMsg.err <- nil
 			return nil
@@ -1787,13 +1788,12 @@ func (d *AuthenticatedGossiper) processNetworkAnnouncement(
 		}
 
 		// Before we perform any of the expensive checks below, we'll
-		// make sure that the router doesn't already have a fresher
-		// announcement for this edge.
+		// check whether this update is stale or is for a zombie
+		// channel in order to quickly reject it.
 		timestamp := time.Unix(int64(msg.Timestamp), 0)
 		if d.cfg.Router.IsStaleEdgePolicy(
 			msg.ShortChannelID, timestamp, msg.ChannelFlags,
 		) {
-
 			nMsg.err <- nil
 			return nil
 		}
@@ -1809,56 +1809,99 @@ func (d *AuthenticatedGossiper) processNetworkAnnouncement(
 		d.channelMtx.Lock(msg.ShortChannelID.ToUint64())
 		defer d.channelMtx.Unlock(msg.ShortChannelID.ToUint64())
 		chanInfo, _, _, err := d.cfg.Router.GetChannelByID(msg.ShortChannelID)
-		if err != nil {
-			switch err {
-			case channeldb.ErrGraphNotFound:
-				fallthrough
-			case channeldb.ErrGraphNoEdgesFound:
-				fallthrough
-			case channeldb.ErrEdgeNotFound:
-				// If the edge corresponding to this
-				// ChannelUpdate was not found in the graph,
-				// this might be a channel in the process of
-				// being opened, and we haven't processed our
-				// own ChannelAnnouncement yet, hence it is not
-				// found in the graph. This usually gets
-				// resolved after the channel proofs are
-				// exchanged and the channel is broadcasted to
-				// the rest of the network, but in case this
-				// is a private channel this won't ever happen.
-				// Because of this, we temporarily add it to a
-				// map, and reprocess it after our own
-				// ChannelAnnouncement has been processed.
-				d.pChanUpdMtx.Lock()
-				d.prematureChannelUpdates[shortChanID] = append(
-					d.prematureChannelUpdates[shortChanID],
-					nMsg,
-				)
-				d.pChanUpdMtx.Unlock()
+		switch err {
+		// No error, break.
+		case nil:
+			break
 
-				log.Debugf("Got ChannelUpdate for edge not "+
-					"found in graph(shortChanID=%v), "+
-					"saving for reprocessing later",
-					shortChanID)
+		case channeldb.ErrZombieEdge:
+			// Since we've deemed the update as not stale above,
+			// before marking it live, we'll make sure it has been
+			// signed by the correct party. The least-significant
+			// bit in the flag on the channel update tells us which
+			// edge is being updated.
+			var pubKey *btcec.PublicKey
+			switch {
+			case msg.ChannelFlags&lnwire.ChanUpdateDirection == 0:
+				pubKey, _ = chanInfo.NodeKey1()
+			case msg.ChannelFlags&lnwire.ChanUpdateDirection == 1:
+				pubKey, _ = chanInfo.NodeKey2()
+			}
 
-				// NOTE: We don't return anything on the error
-				// channel for this message, as we expect that
-				// will be done when this ChannelUpdate is
-				// later reprocessed.
-				return nil
-
-			default:
-				err := fmt.Errorf("unable to validate "+
-					"channel update short_chan_id=%v: %v",
-					shortChanID, err)
+			err := routing.VerifyChannelUpdateSignature(msg, pubKey)
+			if err != nil {
+				err := fmt.Errorf("unable to verify channel "+
+					"update signature: %v", err)
 				log.Error(err)
 				nMsg.err <- err
-
-				d.rejectMtx.Lock()
-				d.recentRejects[msg.ShortChannelID.ToUint64()] = struct{}{}
-				d.rejectMtx.Unlock()
 				return nil
 			}
+
+			// With the signature valid, we'll proceed to mark the
+			// edge as live and wait for the channel announcement to
+			// come through again.
+			err = d.cfg.Router.MarkEdgeLive(msg.ShortChannelID)
+			if err != nil {
+				err := fmt.Errorf("unable to remove edge with "+
+					"chan_id=%v from zombie index: %v",
+					msg.ShortChannelID, err)
+				log.Error(err)
+				nMsg.err <- err
+				return nil
+			}
+
+			log.Debugf("Removed edge with chan_id=%v from zombie "+
+				"index", msg.ShortChannelID)
+
+			// We'll fallthrough to ensure we stash the update until
+			// we receive its corresponding ChannelAnnouncement.
+			// This is needed to ensure the edge exists in the graph
+			// before applying the update.
+			fallthrough
+		case channeldb.ErrGraphNotFound:
+			fallthrough
+		case channeldb.ErrGraphNoEdgesFound:
+			fallthrough
+		case channeldb.ErrEdgeNotFound:
+			// If the edge corresponding to this ChannelUpdate was
+			// not found in the graph, this might be a channel in
+			// the process of being opened, and we haven't processed
+			// our own ChannelAnnouncement yet, hence it is not
+			// found in the graph. This usually gets resolved after
+			// the channel proofs are exchanged and the channel is
+			// broadcasted to the rest of the network, but in case
+			// this is a private channel this won't ever happen.
+			// This can also happen in the case of a zombie channel
+			// with a fresh update for which we don't have a
+			// ChannelAnnouncement for since we reject them. Because
+			// of this, we temporarily add it to a map, and
+			// reprocess it after our own ChannelAnnouncement has
+			// been processed.
+			d.pChanUpdMtx.Lock()
+			d.prematureChannelUpdates[shortChanID] = append(
+				d.prematureChannelUpdates[shortChanID], nMsg,
+			)
+			d.pChanUpdMtx.Unlock()
+
+			log.Debugf("Got ChannelUpdate for edge not found in "+
+				"graph(shortChanID=%v), saving for "+
+				"reprocessing later", shortChanID)
+
+			// NOTE: We don't return anything on the error channel
+			// for this message, as we expect that will be done when
+			// this ChannelUpdate is later reprocessed.
+			return nil
+
+		default:
+			err := fmt.Errorf("unable to validate channel update "+
+				"short_chan_id=%v: %v", shortChanID, err)
+			log.Error(err)
+			nMsg.err <- err
+
+			d.rejectMtx.Lock()
+			d.recentRejects[msg.ShortChannelID.ToUint64()] = struct{}{}
+			d.rejectMtx.Unlock()
+			return nil
 		}
 
 		// The least-significant bit in the flag on the channel update
diff --git a/discovery/gossiper_test.go b/discovery/gossiper_test.go
index 560fdbb1a..8b8a3917e 100644
--- a/discovery/gossiper_test.go
+++ b/discovery/gossiper_test.go
@@ -110,10 +110,11 @@ func (n *mockSigner) SignMessage(pubKey *btcec.PublicKey,
 type mockGraphSource struct {
 	bestHeight uint32
 
-	mu    sync.Mutex
-	nodes []channeldb.LightningNode
-	infos map[uint64]channeldb.ChannelEdgeInfo
-	edges map[uint64][]channeldb.ChannelEdgePolicy
+	mu      sync.Mutex
+	nodes   []channeldb.LightningNode
+	infos   map[uint64]channeldb.ChannelEdgeInfo
+	edges   map[uint64][]channeldb.ChannelEdgePolicy
+	zombies map[uint64][][33]byte
 }
 
 func newMockRouter(height uint32) *mockGraphSource {
@@ -121,6 +122,7 @@ func newMockRouter(height uint32) *mockGraphSource {
 		bestHeight: height,
 		infos:      make(map[uint64]channeldb.ChannelEdgeInfo),
 		edges:      make(map[uint64][]channeldb.ChannelEdgePolicy),
+		zombies:    make(map[uint64][][33]byte),
 	}
 }
 
@@ -205,9 +207,18 @@ func (r *mockGraphSource) GetChannelByID(chanID lnwire.ShortChannelID) (
 	r.mu.Lock()
 	defer r.mu.Unlock()
 
-	chanInfo, ok := r.infos[chanID.ToUint64()]
+	chanIDInt := chanID.ToUint64()
+	chanInfo, ok := r.infos[chanIDInt]
 	if !ok {
-		return nil, nil, nil, channeldb.ErrEdgeNotFound
+		pubKeys, isZombie := r.zombies[chanIDInt]
+		if !isZombie {
+			return nil, nil, nil, channeldb.ErrEdgeNotFound
+		}
+
+		return &channeldb.ChannelEdgeInfo{
+			NodeKey1Bytes: pubKeys[0],
+			NodeKey2Bytes: pubKeys[1],
+		}, nil, nil, channeldb.ErrZombieEdge
 	}
 
 	edges := r.edges[chanID.ToUint64()]
@@ -280,13 +291,15 @@ func (r *mockGraphSource) IsPublicNode(node routing.Vertex) (bool, error) {
 }
 
 // IsKnownEdge returns true if the graph source already knows of the passed
-// channel ID.
+// channel ID either as a live or zombie channel.
 func (r *mockGraphSource) IsKnownEdge(chanID lnwire.ShortChannelID) bool {
 	r.mu.Lock()
 	defer r.mu.Unlock()
 
-	_, ok := r.infos[chanID.ToUint64()]
-	return ok
+	chanIDInt := chanID.ToUint64()
+	_, exists := r.infos[chanIDInt]
+	_, isZombie := r.zombies[chanIDInt]
+	return exists || isZombie
 }
 
 // IsStaleEdgePolicy returns true if the graph source has a channel edge for
@@ -297,13 +310,23 @@ func (r *mockGraphSource) IsStaleEdgePolicy(chanID lnwire.ShortChannelID,
 	r.mu.Lock()
 	defer r.mu.Unlock()
 
-	edges, ok := r.edges[chanID.ToUint64()]
+	chanIDInt := chanID.ToUint64()
+	edges, ok := r.edges[chanIDInt]
 	if !ok {
-		return false
+		// Since the edge doesn't exist, we'll check our zombie index as
+		// well.
+		_, isZombie := r.zombies[chanIDInt]
+		if !isZombie {
+			return false
+		}
+
+		// Since it exists within our zombie index, we'll check that it
+		// respects the router's live edge horizon to determine whether
+		// it is stale or not.
+		return time.Since(timestamp) > routing.DefaultChannelPruneExpiry
 	}
 
 	switch {
-
 	case len(edges) >= 1 && edges[0].ChannelFlags == flags:
 		return !edges[0].LastUpdate.Before(timestamp)
 
@@ -315,6 +338,26 @@ func (r *mockGraphSource) IsStaleEdgePolicy(chanID lnwire.ShortChannelID,
 	}
 }
 
+// MarkEdgeLive clears an edge from our zombie index, deeming it as live.
+//
+// NOTE: This method is part of the ChannelGraphSource interface.
+func (r *mockGraphSource) MarkEdgeLive(chanID lnwire.ShortChannelID) error {
+	r.mu.Lock()
+	defer r.mu.Unlock()
+	delete(r.zombies, chanID.ToUint64())
+	return nil
+}
+
+// MarkEdgeZombie marks an edge as a zombie within our zombie index.
+func (r *mockGraphSource) MarkEdgeZombie(chanID lnwire.ShortChannelID, pubKey1,
+	pubKey2 [33]byte) error {
+
+	r.mu.Lock()
+	defer r.mu.Unlock()
+	r.zombies[chanID.ToUint64()] = [][33]byte{pubKey1, pubKey2}
+	return nil
+}
+
 type mockNotifier struct {
 	clientCounter uint32
 	epochClients  map[uint32]chan *chainntnfs.BlockEpoch
@@ -2158,6 +2201,259 @@ func TestForwardPrivateNodeAnnouncement(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestRejectZombieEdge ensures that we properly reject any announcements for
+// zombie edges.
+func TestRejectZombieEdge(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// We'll start by creating our test context with a batch of
+	// announcements.
+	ctx, cleanup, err := createTestCtx(0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable to create test context: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer cleanup()
+
+	batch, err := createAnnouncements(0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable to create announcements: %v", err)
+	}
+	remotePeer := &mockPeer{pk: nodeKeyPriv2.PubKey()}
+
+	// processAnnouncements is a helper closure we'll use to test that we
+	// properly process/reject announcements based on whether they're for a
+	// zombie edge or not.
+	processAnnouncements := func(isZombie bool) {
+		t.Helper()
+
+		errChan := ctx.gossiper.ProcessRemoteAnnouncement(
+			batch.remoteChanAnn, remotePeer,
+		)
+		select {
+		case err := <-errChan:
+			if isZombie && err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("expected to reject live channel "+
+					"announcement with nil error: %v", err)
+			}
+			if !isZombie && err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("expected to process live channel "+
+					"announcement: %v", err)
+			}
+		case <-time.After(time.Second):
+			t.Fatal("expected to process channel announcement")
+		}
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.broadcastedMessage:
+			if isZombie {
+				t.Fatal("expected to not broadcast zombie " +
+					"channel announcement")
+			}
+		case <-time.After(2 * trickleDelay):
+			if !isZombie {
+				t.Fatal("expected to broadcast live channel " +
+					"announcement")
+			}
+		}
+
+		errChan = ctx.gossiper.ProcessRemoteAnnouncement(
+			batch.chanUpdAnn2, remotePeer,
+		)
+		select {
+		case err := <-errChan:
+			if isZombie && err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("expected to reject zombie channel "+
+					"update with nil error: %v", err)
+			}
+			if !isZombie && err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("expected to process live channel "+
+					"update: %v", err)
+			}
+		case <-time.After(time.Second):
+			t.Fatal("expected to process channel update")
+		}
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.broadcastedMessage:
+			if isZombie {
+				t.Fatal("expected to not broadcast zombie " +
+					"channel update")
+			}
+		case <-time.After(2 * trickleDelay):
+			if !isZombie {
+				t.Fatal("expected to broadcast live channel " +
+					"update")
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// We'll mark the edge for which we'll process announcements for as a
+	// zombie within the router. This should reject any announcements for
+	// this edge while it remains as a zombie.
+	chanID := batch.remoteChanAnn.ShortChannelID
+	err = ctx.router.MarkEdgeZombie(
+		chanID, batch.remoteChanAnn.NodeID1, batch.remoteChanAnn.NodeID2,
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable to mark channel %v as zombie: %v", chanID, err)
+	}
+
+	processAnnouncements(true)
+
+	// If we then mark the edge as live, the edge's zombie status should be
+	// overridden and the announcements should be processed.
+	if err := ctx.router.MarkEdgeLive(chanID); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable mark channel %v as zombie: %v", chanID, err)
+	}
+
+	processAnnouncements(false)
+}
+
+// TestProcessZombieEdgeNowLive ensures that we can detect when a zombie edge
+// becomes live by receiving a fresh update.
+func TestProcessZombieEdgeNowLive(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// We'll start by creating our test context with a batch of
+	// announcements.
+	ctx, cleanup, err := createTestCtx(0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable to create test context: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer cleanup()
+
+	batch, err := createAnnouncements(0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable to create announcements: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	localPrivKey := nodeKeyPriv1
+	remotePrivKey := nodeKeyPriv2
+
+	remotePeer := &mockPeer{pk: remotePrivKey.PubKey()}
+
+	// processAnnouncement is a helper closure we'll use to ensure an
+	// announcement is properly processed/rejected based on whether the edge
+	// is a zombie or not. The expectsErr boolean can be used to determine
+	// whether we should expect an error when processing the message, while
+	// the isZombie boolean can be used to determine whether the
+	// announcement should be or not be broadcast.
+	processAnnouncement := func(ann lnwire.Message, isZombie, expectsErr bool) {
+		t.Helper()
+
+		errChan := ctx.gossiper.ProcessRemoteAnnouncement(
+			ann, remotePeer,
+		)
+
+		var err error
+		select {
+		case err = <-errChan:
+		case <-time.After(time.Second):
+			t.Fatal("expected to process announcement")
+		}
+		if expectsErr && err == nil {
+			t.Fatal("expected error when processing announcement")
+		}
+		if !expectsErr && err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("received unexpected error when processing "+
+				"announcement: %v", err)
+		}
+
+		select {
+		case msgWithSenders := <-ctx.broadcastedMessage:
+			if isZombie {
+				t.Fatal("expected to not broadcast zombie " +
+					"channel message")
+			}
+			assertMessage(t, ann, msgWithSenders.msg)
+
+		case <-time.After(2 * trickleDelay):
+			if !isZombie {
+				t.Fatal("expected to broadcast live channel " +
+					"message")
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// We'll generate a channel update with a timestamp far enough in the
+	// past to consider it a zombie.
+	zombieTimestamp := time.Now().Add(-routing.DefaultChannelPruneExpiry)
+	batch.chanUpdAnn2.Timestamp = uint32(zombieTimestamp.Unix())
+	if err := signUpdate(remotePrivKey, batch.chanUpdAnn2); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable to sign update with new timestamp: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// We'll also add the edge to our zombie index.
+	chanID := batch.remoteChanAnn.ShortChannelID
+	err = ctx.router.MarkEdgeZombie(
+		chanID, batch.remoteChanAnn.NodeID1, batch.remoteChanAnn.NodeID2,
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable mark channel %v as zombie: %v", chanID, err)
+	}
+
+	// Attempting to process the current channel update should fail due to
+	// its edge being considered a zombie and its timestamp not being within
+	// the live horizon. We should not expect an error here since it is just
+	// a stale update.
+	processAnnouncement(batch.chanUpdAnn2, true, false)
+
+	// Now we'll generate a new update with a fresh timestamp. This should
+	// allow the channel update to be processed even though it is still
+	// marked as a zombie within the index, since it is a fresh new update.
+	// This won't work however since we'll sign it with the wrong private
+	// key (local rather than remote).
+	batch.chanUpdAnn2.Timestamp = uint32(time.Now().Unix())
+	if err := signUpdate(localPrivKey, batch.chanUpdAnn2); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable to sign update with new timestamp: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// We should expect an error due to the signature being invalid.
+	processAnnouncement(batch.chanUpdAnn2, true, true)
+
+	// Signing it with the correct private key should allow it to be
+	// processed.
+	if err := signUpdate(remotePrivKey, batch.chanUpdAnn2); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable to sign update with new timestamp: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// The channel update cannot be successfully processed and broadcast
+	// until the channel announcement is. Since the channel update indicates
+	// a fresh new update, the gossiper should stash it until it sees the
+	// corresponding channel announcement.
+	updateErrChan := ctx.gossiper.ProcessRemoteAnnouncement(
+		batch.chanUpdAnn2, remotePeer,
+	)
+
+	select {
+	case <-ctx.broadcastedMessage:
+		t.Fatal("expected to not broadcast live channel update " +
+			"without announcement")
+	case <-time.After(2 * trickleDelay):
+	}
+
+	// We'll go ahead and process the channel announcement to ensure the
+	// channel update is processed thereafter.
+	processAnnouncement(batch.remoteChanAnn, false, false)
+
+	// After successfully processing the announcement, the channel update
+	// should have been processed and broadcast successfully as well.
+	select {
+	case err := <-updateErrChan:
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("expected to process live channel update: %v",
+				err)
+		}
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("expected to process announcement")
+	}
+
+	select {
+	case msgWithSenders := <-ctx.broadcastedMessage:
+		assertMessage(t, batch.chanUpdAnn2, msgWithSenders.msg)
+	case <-time.After(2 * trickleDelay):
+		t.Fatal("expected to broadcast live channel update")
+	}
+}
+
 // TestReceiveRemoteChannelUpdateFirst tests that if we receive a ChannelUpdate
 // from the remote before we have processed our own ChannelAnnouncement, it will
 // be reprocessed later, after our ChannelAnnouncement.
diff --git a/routing/ann_validation.go b/routing/ann_validation.go
index 4b304b5a9..184d7009c 100644
--- a/routing/ann_validation.go
+++ b/routing/ann_validation.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package routing
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
+	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/btcsuite/btcd/btcec"
 	"github.com/btcsuite/btcd/chaincfg/chainhash"
@@ -132,20 +133,28 @@ func ValidateChannelUpdateAnn(pubKey *btcec.PublicKey, capacity btcutil.Amount,
 		return err
 	}
 
-	data, err := a.DataToSign()
+	return VerifyChannelUpdateSignature(a, pubKey)
+}
+
+// VerifyChannelUpdateSignature verifies that the channel update message was
+// signed by the party with the given node public key.
+func VerifyChannelUpdateSignature(msg *lnwire.ChannelUpdate,
+	pubKey *btcec.PublicKey) error {
+
+	data, err := msg.DataToSign()
 	if err != nil {
-		return errors.Errorf("unable to reconstruct message: %v", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("unable to reconstruct message data: %v", err)
 	}
 	dataHash := chainhash.DoubleHashB(data)
 
-	nodeSig, err := a.Signature.ToSignature()
+	nodeSig, err := msg.Signature.ToSignature()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
 	if !nodeSig.Verify(dataHash, pubKey) {
-		return errors.Errorf("invalid signature for channel "+
-			"update %v", spew.Sdump(a))
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid signature for channel update %v",
+			spew.Sdump(msg))
 	}
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/routing/router.go b/routing/router.go
index 7d836a890..1025a4023 100644
--- a/routing/router.go
+++ b/routing/router.go
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ const (
 	// if we should give up on a payment attempt. This will be used if a
 	// value isn't specified in the LightningNode struct.
 	defaultPayAttemptTimeout = time.Duration(time.Second * 60)
+
+	// DefaultChannelPruneExpiry is the default duration used to determine
+	// if a channel should be pruned or not.
+	DefaultChannelPruneExpiry = time.Duration(time.Hour * 24 * 14)
 )
 
 var (
@@ -76,7 +80,7 @@ type ChannelGraphSource interface {
 	IsPublicNode(node Vertex) (bool, error)
 
 	// IsKnownEdge returns true if the graph source already knows of the
-	// passed channel ID.
+	// passed channel ID either as a live or zombie edge.
 	IsKnownEdge(chanID lnwire.ShortChannelID) bool
 
 	// IsStaleEdgePolicy returns true if the graph source has a channel
@@ -85,6 +89,10 @@ type ChannelGraphSource interface {
 	IsStaleEdgePolicy(chanID lnwire.ShortChannelID, timestamp time.Time,
 		flags lnwire.ChanUpdateChanFlags) bool
 
+	// MarkEdgeLive clears an edge from our zombie index, deeming it as
+	// live.
+	MarkEdgeLive(chanID lnwire.ShortChannelID) error
+
 	// ForAllOutgoingChannels is used to iterate over all channels
 	// emanating from the "source" node which is the center of the
 	// star-graph.
@@ -1009,12 +1017,19 @@ func (r *ChannelRouter) processUpdate(msg interface{}) error {
 
 		// Prior to processing the announcement we first check if we
 		// already know of this channel, if so, then we can exit early.
-		_, _, exists, err := r.cfg.Graph.HasChannelEdge(msg.ChannelID)
+		_, _, exists, isZombie, err := r.cfg.Graph.HasChannelEdge(
+			msg.ChannelID,
+		)
 		if err != nil && err != channeldb.ErrGraphNoEdgesFound {
 			return errors.Errorf("unable to check for edge "+
 				"existence: %v", err)
-		} else if exists {
-			return newErrf(ErrIgnored, "Ignoring msg for known "+
+		}
+		if isZombie {
+			return newErrf(ErrIgnored, "ignoring msg for zombie "+
+				"chan_id=%v", msg.ChannelID)
+		}
+		if exists {
+			return newErrf(ErrIgnored, "ignoring msg for known "+
 				"chan_id=%v", msg.ChannelID)
 		}
 
@@ -1130,19 +1145,29 @@ func (r *ChannelRouter) processUpdate(msg interface{}) error {
 		r.channelEdgeMtx.Lock(msg.ChannelID)
 		defer r.channelEdgeMtx.Unlock(msg.ChannelID)
 
-		edge1Timestamp, edge2Timestamp, exists, err := r.cfg.Graph.HasChannelEdge(
-			msg.ChannelID,
-		)
+		edge1Timestamp, edge2Timestamp, exists, isZombie, err :=
+			r.cfg.Graph.HasChannelEdge(msg.ChannelID)
 		if err != nil && err != channeldb.ErrGraphNoEdgesFound {
 			return errors.Errorf("unable to check for edge "+
 				"existence: %v", err)
 
 		}
 
+		// If the channel is marked as a zombie in our database, and
+		// we consider this a stale update, then we should not apply the
+		// policy.
+		isStaleUpdate := time.Since(msg.LastUpdate) > r.cfg.ChannelPruneExpiry
+		if isZombie && isStaleUpdate {
+			return newErrf(ErrIgnored, "ignoring stale update "+
+				"(flags=%v|%v) for zombie chan_id=%v",
+				msg.MessageFlags, msg.ChannelFlags,
+				msg.ChannelID)
+		}
+
 		// If the channel doesn't exist in our database, we cannot
 		// apply the updated policy.
 		if !exists {
-			return newErrf(ErrIgnored, "Ignoring update "+
+			return newErrf(ErrIgnored, "ignoring update "+
 				"(flags=%v|%v) for unknown chan_id=%v",
 				msg.MessageFlags, msg.ChannelFlags,
 				msg.ChannelID)
@@ -2241,12 +2266,12 @@ func (r *ChannelRouter) IsPublicNode(node Vertex) (bool, error) {
 }
 
 // IsKnownEdge returns true if the graph source already knows of the passed
-// channel ID.
+// channel ID either as a live or zombie edge.
 //
 // NOTE: This method is part of the ChannelGraphSource interface.
 func (r *ChannelRouter) IsKnownEdge(chanID lnwire.ShortChannelID) bool {
-	_, _, exists, _ := r.cfg.Graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID.ToUint64())
-	return exists
+	_, _, exists, isZombie, _ := r.cfg.Graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID.ToUint64())
+	return exists || isZombie
 }
 
 // IsStaleEdgePolicy returns true if the graph soruce has a channel edge for
@@ -2256,14 +2281,19 @@ func (r *ChannelRouter) IsKnownEdge(chanID lnwire.ShortChannelID) bool {
 func (r *ChannelRouter) IsStaleEdgePolicy(chanID lnwire.ShortChannelID,
 	timestamp time.Time, flags lnwire.ChanUpdateChanFlags) bool {
 
-	edge1Timestamp, edge2Timestamp, exists, err := r.cfg.Graph.HasChannelEdge(
-		chanID.ToUint64(),
-	)
+	edge1Timestamp, edge2Timestamp, exists, isZombie, err :=
+		r.cfg.Graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID.ToUint64())
 	if err != nil {
 		return false
 
 	}
 
+	// If we know of the edge as a zombie, then we'll check the timestamp of
+	// this message to determine whether it's fresh.
+	if isZombie {
+		return time.Since(timestamp) > r.cfg.ChannelPruneExpiry
+	}
+
 	// If we don't know of the edge, then it means it's fresh (thus not
 	// stale).
 	if !exists {
@@ -2275,7 +2305,6 @@ func (r *ChannelRouter) IsStaleEdgePolicy(chanID lnwire.ShortChannelID,
 	// already have the most up to date information for that edge. If so,
 	// then we can exit early.
 	switch {
-
 	// A flag set of 0 indicates this is an announcement for the "first"
 	// node in the channel.
 	case flags&lnwire.ChanUpdateDirection == 0:
@@ -2289,3 +2318,10 @@ func (r *ChannelRouter) IsStaleEdgePolicy(chanID lnwire.ShortChannelID,
 
 	return false
 }
+
+// MarkEdgeLive clears an edge from our zombie index, deeming it as live.
+//
+// NOTE: This method is part of the ChannelGraphSource interface.
+func (r *ChannelRouter) MarkEdgeLive(chanID lnwire.ShortChannelID) error {
+	return r.cfg.Graph.MarkEdgeLive(chanID.ToUint64())
+}
diff --git a/routing/router_test.go b/routing/router_test.go
index a8249183b..df9ad9e6a 100644
--- a/routing/router_test.go
+++ b/routing/router_test.go
@@ -1549,21 +1549,27 @@ func TestWakeUpOnStaleBranch(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Check that the fundingTxs are in the graph db.
-	_, _, has, err := ctx.graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID1)
+	_, _, has, isZombie, err := ctx.graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID1)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("error looking for edge: %v", chanID1)
 	}
 	if !has {
 		t.Fatalf("could not find edge in graph")
 	}
+	if isZombie {
+		t.Fatal("edge was marked as zombie")
+	}
 
-	_, _, has, err = ctx.graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID2)
+	_, _, has, isZombie, err = ctx.graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID2)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("error looking for edge: %v", chanID2)
 	}
 	if !has {
 		t.Fatalf("could not find edge in graph")
 	}
+	if isZombie {
+		t.Fatal("edge was marked as zombie")
+	}
 
 	// Stop the router, so we can reorg the chain while its offline.
 	if err := ctx.router.Stop(); err != nil {
@@ -1607,22 +1613,27 @@ func TestWakeUpOnStaleBranch(t *testing.T) {
 	// The channel with chanID2 should not be in the database anymore,
 	// since it is not confirmed on the longest chain. chanID1 should
 	// still be.
-	_, _, has, err = ctx.graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID1)
+	_, _, has, isZombie, err = ctx.graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID1)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("error looking for edge: %v", chanID1)
 	}
 	if !has {
 		t.Fatalf("did not find edge in graph")
 	}
+	if isZombie {
+		t.Fatal("edge was marked as zombie")
+	}
 
-	_, _, has, err = ctx.graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID2)
+	_, _, has, isZombie, err = ctx.graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID2)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("error looking for edge: %v", chanID2)
 	}
 	if has {
 		t.Fatalf("found edge in graph")
 	}
-
+	if isZombie {
+		t.Fatal("reorged edge should not be marked as zombie")
+	}
 }
 
 // TestDisconnectedBlocks checks that the router handles a reorg happening when
@@ -1755,21 +1766,27 @@ func TestDisconnectedBlocks(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Check that the fundingTxs are in the graph db.
-	_, _, has, err := ctx.graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID1)
+	_, _, has, isZombie, err := ctx.graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID1)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("error looking for edge: %v", chanID1)
 	}
 	if !has {
 		t.Fatalf("could not find edge in graph")
 	}
+	if isZombie {
+		t.Fatal("edge was marked as zombie")
+	}
 
-	_, _, has, err = ctx.graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID2)
+	_, _, has, isZombie, err = ctx.graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID2)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("error looking for edge: %v", chanID2)
 	}
 	if !has {
 		t.Fatalf("could not find edge in graph")
 	}
+	if isZombie {
+		t.Fatal("edge was marked as zombie")
+	}
 
 	// Create a 15 block fork. We first let the chainView notify the router
 	// about stale blocks, before sending the now connected blocks. We do
@@ -1796,22 +1813,27 @@ func TestDisconnectedBlocks(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// chanID2 should not be in the database anymore, since it is not
 	// confirmed on the longest chain. chanID1 should still be.
-	_, _, has, err = ctx.graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID1)
+	_, _, has, isZombie, err = ctx.graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID1)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("error looking for edge: %v", chanID1)
 	}
 	if !has {
 		t.Fatalf("did not find edge in graph")
 	}
+	if isZombie {
+		t.Fatal("edge was marked as zombie")
+	}
 
-	_, _, has, err = ctx.graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID2)
+	_, _, has, isZombie, err = ctx.graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID2)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("error looking for edge: %v", chanID2)
 	}
 	if has {
 		t.Fatalf("found edge in graph")
 	}
-
+	if isZombie {
+		t.Fatal("reorged edge should not be marked as zombie")
+	}
 }
 
 // TestChansClosedOfflinePruneGraph tests that if channels we know of are
@@ -1876,13 +1898,16 @@ func TestRouterChansClosedOfflinePruneGraph(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// The router should now be aware of the channel we created above.
-	_, _, hasChan, err := ctx.graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID1.ToUint64())
+	_, _, hasChan, isZombie, err := ctx.graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID1.ToUint64())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("error looking for edge: %v", chanID1)
 	}
 	if !hasChan {
 		t.Fatalf("could not find edge in graph")
 	}
+	if isZombie {
+		t.Fatal("edge was marked as zombie")
+	}
 
 	// With the transaction included, and the router's database state
 	// updated, we'll now mine 5 additional blocks on top of it.
@@ -1957,13 +1982,16 @@ func TestRouterChansClosedOfflinePruneGraph(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// At this point, the channel that was pruned should no longer be known
 	// by the router.
-	_, _, hasChan, err = ctx.graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID1.ToUint64())
+	_, _, hasChan, isZombie, err = ctx.graph.HasChannelEdge(chanID1.ToUint64())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("error looking for edge: %v", chanID1)
 	}
 	if hasChan {
 		t.Fatalf("channel was found in graph but shouldn't have been")
 	}
+	if isZombie {
+		t.Fatal("closed channel should not be marked as zombie")
+	}
 }
 
 // TestFindPathFeeWeighting tests that the findPath method will properly prefer
diff --git a/server.go b/server.go
index 0ac457332..6ffbe0711 100644
--- a/server.go
+++ b/server.go
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ func newServer(listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB, cc *chainControl,
 				firstHop, htlcAdd, errorDecryptor,
 			)
 		},
-		ChannelPruneExpiry: time.Duration(time.Hour * 24 * 14),
+		ChannelPruneExpiry: routing.DefaultChannelPruneExpiry,
 		GraphPruneInterval: time.Duration(time.Hour),
 		QueryBandwidth: func(edge *channeldb.ChannelEdgeInfo) lnwire.MilliSatoshi {
 			// If we aren't on either side of this edge, then we'll