diff --git a/lntest/itest/assertions.go b/lntest/itest/assertions.go
index 4b540a09c..0702ba34d 100644
--- a/lntest/itest/assertions.go
+++ b/lntest/itest/assertions.go
@@ -146,15 +146,6 @@ func closeChannelAndAssertType(t *harnessTest,
 	)[0]
 	expectDisable := !curPolicy.Disabled
 
-	// If the current channel policy is enabled, begin subscribing the graph
-	// updates before initiating the channel closure.
-	var graphSub *graphSubscription
-	if expectDisable {
-		sub := subscribeGraphNotifications(ctxt, t, node)
-		graphSub = &sub
-		defer close(graphSub.quit)
-	}
-
 	closeUpdates, _, err := net.CloseChannel(node, fundingChanPoint, force)
 	require.NoError(t.t, err, "unable to close channel")
 
@@ -162,11 +153,9 @@ func closeChannelAndAssertType(t *harnessTest,
 	// received the disabled update.
 	if expectDisable {
 		curPolicy.Disabled = true
-		waitForChannelUpdate(
-			t, *graphSub,
-			[]expectedChanUpdate{
-				{node.PubKeyStr, curPolicy, fundingChanPoint},
-			},
+		assertChannelPolicyUpdate(
+			t.t, node, node.PubKeyStr,
+			curPolicy, fundingChanPoint, false,
 		)
 	}
 
@@ -565,13 +554,6 @@ func getChannelBalance(t *harnessTest,
 	return resp
 }
 
-// expectedChanUpdate houses params we expect a ChannelUpdate to advertise.
-type expectedChanUpdate struct {
-	advertisingNode string
-	expectedPolicy  *lnrpc.RoutingPolicy
-	chanPoint       *lnrpc.ChannelPoint
-}
-
 // txStr returns the string representation of the channel's funding transaction.
 func txStr(chanPoint *lnrpc.ChannelPoint) string {
 	fundingTxID, err := lnrpc.GetChanPointFundingTxid(chanPoint)
@@ -585,109 +567,6 @@ func txStr(chanPoint *lnrpc.ChannelPoint) string {
 	return cp.String()
 }
 
-// waitForChannelUpdate waits for a node to receive the expected channel
-// updates.
-func waitForChannelUpdate(t *harnessTest, subscription graphSubscription,
-	expUpdates []expectedChanUpdate) {
-
-	// Create an array indicating which expected channel updates we have
-	// received.
-	found := make([]bool, len(expUpdates))
-out:
-	for {
-		select {
-		case graphUpdate := <-subscription.updateChan:
-			for _, update := range graphUpdate.ChannelUpdates {
-				require.NotZerof(
-					t.t, len(expUpdates),
-					"received unexpected channel "+
-						"update from %v for channel %v",
-					update.AdvertisingNode,
-					update.ChanId,
-				)
-
-				// For each expected update, check if it matches
-				// the update we just received.
-				for i, exp := range expUpdates {
-					fundingTxStr := txStr(update.ChanPoint)
-					if fundingTxStr != txStr(exp.chanPoint) {
-						continue
-					}
-
-					if update.AdvertisingNode !=
-						exp.advertisingNode {
-						continue
-					}
-
-					err := lntest.CheckChannelPolicy(
-						update.RoutingPolicy,
-						exp.expectedPolicy,
-					)
-					if err != nil {
-						continue
-					}
-
-					// We got a policy update that matched
-					// the values and channel point of what
-					// we expected, mark it as found.
-					found[i] = true
-
-					// If we have no more channel updates
-					// we are waiting for, break out of the
-					// loop.
-					rem := 0
-					for _, f := range found {
-						if !f {
-							rem++
-						}
-					}
-
-					if rem == 0 {
-						break out
-					}
-
-					// Since we found a match among the
-					// expected updates, break out of the
-					// inner loop.
-					break
-				}
-			}
-		case err := <-subscription.errChan:
-			t.Fatalf("unable to recv graph update: %v", err)
-		case <-time.After(defaultTimeout):
-			if len(expUpdates) == 0 {
-				return
-			}
-			t.Fatalf("did not receive channel update")
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-// assertNoChannelUpdates ensures that no ChannelUpdates are sent via the
-// graphSubscription. This method will block for the provided duration before
-// returning to the caller if successful.
-func assertNoChannelUpdates(t *harnessTest, subscription graphSubscription,
-	duration time.Duration) {
-
-	timeout := time.After(duration)
-	for {
-		select {
-		case graphUpdate := <-subscription.updateChan:
-			require.Zero(
-				t.t, len(graphUpdate.ChannelUpdates),
-				"no channel updates were expected",
-			)
-
-		case err := <-subscription.errChan:
-			t.Fatalf("graph subscription failure: %v", err)
-
-		case <-timeout:
-			// No updates received, success.
-			return
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 // getChannelPolicies queries the channel graph and retrieves the current edge
 // policies for the provided channel points.
 func getChannelPolicies(t *harnessTest, node *lntest.HarnessNode,
@@ -745,7 +624,7 @@ func assertChannelPolicy(t *harnessTest, node *lntest.HarnessNode,
 	for _, policy := range policies {
 		err := lntest.CheckChannelPolicy(policy, expectedPolicy)
 		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf(err.Error())
+			t.Fatalf(fmt.Sprintf("%v: %s", err.Error(), node))
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -1761,3 +1640,21 @@ func assertNumUTXOs(t *testing.T, node *lntest.HarnessNode, expectedUtxos int) {
 	}, defaultTimeout)
 	require.NoError(t, err, "wait for listunspent")
 }
+
+// assertChannelPolicyUpdate checks that the required policy update has
+// happened on the given node.
+func assertChannelPolicyUpdate(t *testing.T, node *lntest.HarnessNode,
+	advertisingNode string, policy *lnrpc.RoutingPolicy,
+	chanPoint *lnrpc.ChannelPoint, includeUnannounced bool) {
+
+	ctxb := context.Background()
+	ctxt, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctxb, lntest.DefaultTimeout)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	require.NoError(
+		t, node.WaitForChannelPolicyUpdate(
+			ctxt, advertisingNode, policy,
+			chanPoint, includeUnannounced,
+		), "error while waiting for channel update",
+	)
+}
diff --git a/lntest/itest/lnd_channel_graph_test.go b/lntest/itest/lnd_channel_graph_test.go
index 774f8e2b9..c7040e02e 100644
--- a/lntest/itest/lnd_channel_graph_test.go
+++ b/lntest/itest/lnd_channel_graph_test.go
@@ -86,8 +86,20 @@ func testUpdateChanStatus(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 	net.ConnectNodes(t.t, alice, carol)
 	net.ConnectNodes(t.t, bob, carol)
 
-	carolSub := subscribeGraphNotifications(ctxb, t, carol)
-	defer close(carolSub.quit)
+	// assertChannelUpdate checks that the required policy update has
+	// happened on the given node.
+	assertChannelUpdate := func(node *lntest.HarnessNode,
+		policy *lnrpc.RoutingPolicy) {
+
+		ctxt, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctxb, defaultTimeout)
+		defer cancel()
+
+		require.NoError(
+			t.t, carol.WaitForChannelPolicyUpdate(
+				ctxt, node.PubKeyStr, policy, chanPoint, false,
+			), "error while waiting for channel update",
+		)
+	}
 
 	// sendReq sends an UpdateChanStatus request to the given node.
 	sendReq := func(node *lntest.HarnessNode, chanPoint *lnrpc.ChannelPoint,
@@ -169,23 +181,13 @@ func testUpdateChanStatus(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 	// update is propagated.
 	sendReq(alice, chanPoint, routerrpc.ChanStatusAction_DISABLE)
 	expectedPolicy.Disabled = true
-	waitForChannelUpdate(
-		t, carolSub,
-		[]expectedChanUpdate{
-			{alice.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint},
-		},
-	)
+	assertChannelUpdate(alice, expectedPolicy)
 
 	// Re-enable the channel and ensure that a "Disabled = false" update
 	// is propagated.
 	sendReq(alice, chanPoint, routerrpc.ChanStatusAction_ENABLE)
 	expectedPolicy.Disabled = false
-	waitForChannelUpdate(
-		t, carolSub,
-		[]expectedChanUpdate{
-			{alice.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint},
-		},
-	)
+	assertChannelUpdate(alice, expectedPolicy)
 
 	// Manually enabling a channel should NOT prevent subsequent
 	// disconnections from automatically disabling the channel again
@@ -195,24 +197,14 @@ func testUpdateChanStatus(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 		t.Fatalf("unable to disconnect Alice from Bob: %v", err)
 	}
 	expectedPolicy.Disabled = true
-	waitForChannelUpdate(
-		t, carolSub,
-		[]expectedChanUpdate{
-			{alice.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint},
-			{bob.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint},
-		},
-	)
+	assertChannelUpdate(alice, expectedPolicy)
+	assertChannelUpdate(bob, expectedPolicy)
 
 	// Reconnecting the nodes should propagate a "Disabled = false" update.
 	net.EnsureConnected(t.t, alice, bob)
 	expectedPolicy.Disabled = false
-	waitForChannelUpdate(
-		t, carolSub,
-		[]expectedChanUpdate{
-			{alice.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint},
-			{bob.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint},
-		},
-	)
+	assertChannelUpdate(alice, expectedPolicy)
+	assertChannelUpdate(bob, expectedPolicy)
 
 	// Manually disabling the channel should prevent a subsequent
 	// disconnect / reconnect from re-enabling the channel on
@@ -223,12 +215,7 @@ func testUpdateChanStatus(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 	// Alice sends out the "Disabled = true" update in response to
 	// the ChanStatusAction_DISABLE request.
 	expectedPolicy.Disabled = true
-	waitForChannelUpdate(
-		t, carolSub,
-		[]expectedChanUpdate{
-			{alice.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint},
-		},
-	)
+	assertChannelUpdate(alice, expectedPolicy)
 
 	if err := net.DisconnectNodes(alice, bob); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unable to disconnect Alice from Bob: %v", err)
@@ -237,23 +224,13 @@ func testUpdateChanStatus(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 	// Bob sends a "Disabled = true" update upon detecting the
 	// disconnect.
 	expectedPolicy.Disabled = true
-	waitForChannelUpdate(
-		t, carolSub,
-		[]expectedChanUpdate{
-			{bob.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint},
-		},
-	)
+	assertChannelUpdate(bob, expectedPolicy)
 
 	// Bob sends a "Disabled = false" update upon detecting the
 	// reconnect.
 	net.EnsureConnected(t.t, alice, bob)
 	expectedPolicy.Disabled = false
-	waitForChannelUpdate(
-		t, carolSub,
-		[]expectedChanUpdate{
-			{bob.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint},
-		},
-	)
+	assertChannelUpdate(bob, expectedPolicy)
 
 	// However, since we manually disabled the channel on Alice's end,
 	// the policy on Alice's end should still be "Disabled = true". Again,
@@ -267,26 +244,17 @@ func testUpdateChanStatus(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 	// Bob sends a "Disabled = true" update upon detecting the
 	// disconnect.
 	expectedPolicy.Disabled = true
-	waitForChannelUpdate(
-		t, carolSub,
-		[]expectedChanUpdate{
-			{bob.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint},
-		},
-	)
+	assertChannelUpdate(bob, expectedPolicy)
 
 	// After restoring automatic channel state management on Alice's end,
 	// BOTH Alice and Bob should set the channel state back to "enabled"
 	// on reconnect.
 	sendReq(alice, chanPoint, routerrpc.ChanStatusAction_AUTO)
 	net.EnsureConnected(t.t, alice, bob)
+
 	expectedPolicy.Disabled = false
-	waitForChannelUpdate(
-		t, carolSub,
-		[]expectedChanUpdate{
-			{alice.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint},
-			{bob.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint},
-		},
-	)
+	assertChannelUpdate(alice, expectedPolicy)
+	assertChannelUpdate(bob, expectedPolicy)
 	assertEdgeDisabled(alice, chanPoint, false)
 }
 
diff --git a/lntest/itest/lnd_channel_policy_test.go b/lntest/itest/lnd_channel_policy_test.go
index 67c76f342..3bdadf86c 100644
--- a/lntest/itest/lnd_channel_policy_test.go
+++ b/lntest/itest/lnd_channel_policy_test.go
@@ -28,14 +28,6 @@ func testUpdateChannelPolicy(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 	)
 	defaultMaxHtlc := calculateMaxHtlc(funding.MaxBtcFundingAmount)
 
-	// Launch notification clients for all nodes, such that we can
-	// get notified when they discover new channels and updates in the
-	// graph.
-	aliceSub := subscribeGraphNotifications(ctxb, t, net.Alice)
-	defer close(aliceSub.quit)
-	bobSub := subscribeGraphNotifications(ctxb, t, net.Bob)
-	defer close(bobSub.quit)
-
 	chanAmt := funding.MaxBtcFundingAmount
 	pushAmt := chanAmt / 2
 
@@ -47,12 +39,27 @@ func testUpdateChannelPolicy(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 			PushAmt: pushAmt,
 		},
 	)
+	defer closeChannelAndAssert(t, net, net.Alice, chanPoint, false)
 
 	// We add all the nodes' update channels to a slice, such that we can
 	// make sure they all receive the expected updates.
-	graphSubs := []graphSubscription{aliceSub, bobSub}
 	nodes := []*lntest.HarnessNode{net.Alice, net.Bob}
 
+	// assertPolicyUpdate checks that a given policy update has been
+	// received by a list of given nodes.
+	assertPolicyUpdate := func(nodes []*lntest.HarnessNode,
+		advertisingNode string, policy *lnrpc.RoutingPolicy,
+		chanPoint *lnrpc.ChannelPoint) {
+
+		for _, node := range nodes {
+			assertChannelPolicyUpdate(
+				t.t, node, advertisingNode,
+				policy, chanPoint, false,
+			)
+		}
+
+	}
+
 	// Alice and Bob should see each other's ChannelUpdates, advertising the
 	// default routing policies.
 	expectedPolicy := &lnrpc.RoutingPolicy{
@@ -63,15 +70,10 @@ func testUpdateChannelPolicy(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 		MaxHtlcMsat:      defaultMaxHtlc,
 	}
 
-	for _, graphSub := range graphSubs {
-		waitForChannelUpdate(
-			t, graphSub,
-			[]expectedChanUpdate{
-				{net.Alice.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint},
-				{net.Bob.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint},
-			},
-		)
-	}
+	assertPolicyUpdate(
+		nodes, net.Alice.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint,
+	)
+	assertPolicyUpdate(nodes, net.Bob.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint)
 
 	// They should now know about the default policies.
 	for _, node := range nodes {
@@ -105,10 +107,6 @@ func testUpdateChannelPolicy(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 	// Clean up carol's node when the test finishes.
 	defer shutdownAndAssert(net, t, carol)
 
-	carolSub := subscribeGraphNotifications(ctxb, t, carol)
-	defer close(carolSub.quit)
-
-	graphSubs = append(graphSubs, carolSub)
 	nodes = append(nodes, carol)
 
 	// Send some coins to Carol that can be used for channel funding.
@@ -129,6 +127,7 @@ func testUpdateChannelPolicy(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 			MinHtlc: customMinHtlc,
 		},
 	)
+	defer closeChannelAndAssert(t, net, net.Bob, chanPoint2, false)
 
 	expectedPolicyBob := &lnrpc.RoutingPolicy{
 		FeeBaseMsat:      defaultFeeBase,
@@ -145,15 +144,12 @@ func testUpdateChannelPolicy(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 		MaxHtlcMsat:      defaultMaxHtlc,
 	}
 
-	for _, graphSub := range graphSubs {
-		waitForChannelUpdate(
-			t, graphSub,
-			[]expectedChanUpdate{
-				{net.Bob.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicyBob, chanPoint2},
-				{carol.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicyCarol, chanPoint2},
-			},
-		)
-	}
+	assertPolicyUpdate(
+		nodes, net.Bob.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicyBob, chanPoint2,
+	)
+	assertPolicyUpdate(
+		nodes, carol.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicyCarol, chanPoint2,
+	)
 
 	// Check that all nodes now know about the updated policies.
 	for _, node := range nodes {
@@ -345,14 +341,7 @@ func testUpdateChannelPolicy(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 	}
 
 	// Wait for all nodes to have seen the policy update done by Bob.
-	for _, graphSub := range graphSubs {
-		waitForChannelUpdate(
-			t, graphSub,
-			[]expectedChanUpdate{
-				{net.Bob.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint},
-			},
-		)
-	}
+	assertPolicyUpdate(nodes, net.Bob.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint)
 
 	// Check that all nodes now know about Bob's updated policy.
 	for _, node := range nodes {
@@ -396,6 +385,7 @@ func testUpdateChannelPolicy(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 			PushAmt: pushAmt,
 		},
 	)
+	defer closeChannelAndAssert(t, net, net.Alice, chanPoint3, false)
 
 	ctxt, _ = context.WithTimeout(ctxb, defaultTimeout)
 	err = net.Alice.WaitForNetworkChannelOpen(ctxt, chanPoint3)
@@ -436,15 +426,12 @@ func testUpdateChannelPolicy(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 
 	// Wait for all nodes to have seen the policy updates for both of
 	// Alice's channels.
-	for _, graphSub := range graphSubs {
-		waitForChannelUpdate(
-			t, graphSub,
-			[]expectedChanUpdate{
-				{net.Alice.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint},
-				{net.Alice.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint3},
-			},
-		)
-	}
+	assertPolicyUpdate(
+		nodes, net.Alice.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint,
+	)
+	assertPolicyUpdate(
+		nodes, net.Alice.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint3,
+	)
 
 	// And finally check that all nodes remembers the policy update they
 	// received.
@@ -469,47 +456,49 @@ func testUpdateChannelPolicy(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 		ctxt, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctxb, defaultTimeout)
 		defer cancel()
 		_, err = net.Alice.UpdateChannelPolicy(ctxt, req)
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("unable to update alice's channel policy: %v", err)
-		}
+		require.NoError(t.t, err)
 
 		// Wait for all nodes to have seen the policy updates for both
 		// of Alice's channels. Carol will not see the last update as
 		// the limit has been reached.
-		for idx, graphSub := range graphSubs {
-			expUpdates := []expectedChanUpdate{
-				{net.Alice.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint},
-				{net.Alice.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint3},
-			}
-			// Carol was added last, which is why we check the last
-			// index.
-			if i == numUpdatesTilRateLimit-1 && idx == len(graphSubs)-1 {
-				expUpdates = nil
-			}
-			waitForChannelUpdate(t, graphSub, expUpdates)
-		}
+		assertPolicyUpdate(
+			[]*lntest.HarnessNode{net.Alice, net.Bob},
+			net.Alice.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint,
+		)
+		assertPolicyUpdate(
+			[]*lntest.HarnessNode{net.Alice, net.Bob},
+			net.Alice.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint3,
+		)
+		// Check that all nodes remembers the policy update
+		// they received.
+		assertChannelPolicy(
+			t, net.Alice, net.Alice.PubKeyStr,
+			expectedPolicy, chanPoint, chanPoint3,
+		)
+		assertChannelPolicy(
+			t, net.Bob, net.Alice.PubKeyStr,
+			expectedPolicy, chanPoint, chanPoint3,
+		)
 
-		// And finally check that all nodes remembers the policy update
-		// they received. Since Carol didn't receive the last update,
-		// she still has Alice's old policy.
-		for idx, node := range nodes {
-			policy := expectedPolicy
-			// Carol was added last, which is why we check the last
-			// index.
-			if i == numUpdatesTilRateLimit-1 && idx == len(nodes)-1 {
-				policy = &prevAlicePolicy
-			}
-			assertChannelPolicy(
-				t, node, net.Alice.PubKeyStr, policy, chanPoint,
-				chanPoint3,
-			)
+		// Carol was added last, which is why we check the last index.
+		// Since Carol didn't receive the last update, she still has
+		// Alice's old policy.
+		if i == numUpdatesTilRateLimit-1 {
+			expectedPolicy = &prevAlicePolicy
 		}
+		assertPolicyUpdate(
+			[]*lntest.HarnessNode{carol},
+			net.Alice.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint,
+		)
+		assertPolicyUpdate(
+			[]*lntest.HarnessNode{carol},
+			net.Alice.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint3,
+		)
+		assertChannelPolicy(
+			t, carol, net.Alice.PubKeyStr,
+			expectedPolicy, chanPoint, chanPoint3,
+		)
 	}
-
-	// Close the channels.
-	closeChannelAndAssert(t, net, net.Alice, chanPoint, false)
-	closeChannelAndAssert(t, net, net.Bob, chanPoint2, false)
-	closeChannelAndAssert(t, net, net.Alice, chanPoint3, false)
 }
 
 // testSendUpdateDisableChannel ensures that a channel update with the disable
@@ -583,9 +572,6 @@ func testSendUpdateDisableChannel(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 
 	net.ConnectNodes(t.t, net.Bob, dave)
 
-	daveSub := subscribeGraphNotifications(ctxb, t, dave)
-	defer close(daveSub.quit)
-
 	// We should expect to see a channel update with the default routing
 	// policy, except that it should indicate the channel is disabled.
 	expectedPolicy := &lnrpc.RoutingPolicy{
@@ -597,18 +583,29 @@ func testSendUpdateDisableChannel(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 		Disabled:         true,
 	}
 
+	// assertPolicyUpdate checks that the required policy update has
+	// happened on the given node.
+	assertPolicyUpdate := func(node *lntest.HarnessNode,
+		policy *lnrpc.RoutingPolicy, chanPoint *lnrpc.ChannelPoint) {
+
+		ctxt, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctxb, defaultTimeout)
+		defer cancel()
+
+		require.NoError(
+			t.t, dave.WaitForChannelPolicyUpdate(
+				ctxt, node.PubKeyStr, policy, chanPoint, false,
+			), "error while waiting for channel update",
+		)
+	}
+
 	// Let Carol go offline. Since Eve has an inactive timeout of 2s, we
 	// expect her to send an update disabling the channel.
 	restartCarol, err := net.SuspendNode(carol)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unable to suspend carol: %v", err)
 	}
-	waitForChannelUpdate(
-		t, daveSub,
-		[]expectedChanUpdate{
-			{eve.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPointEveCarol},
-		},
-	)
+
+	assertPolicyUpdate(eve, expectedPolicy, chanPointEveCarol)
 
 	// We restart Carol. Since the channel now becomes active again, Eve
 	// should send a ChannelUpdate setting the channel no longer disabled.
@@ -617,12 +614,7 @@ func testSendUpdateDisableChannel(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 	}
 
 	expectedPolicy.Disabled = false
-	waitForChannelUpdate(
-		t, daveSub,
-		[]expectedChanUpdate{
-			{eve.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPointEveCarol},
-		},
-	)
+	assertPolicyUpdate(eve, expectedPolicy, chanPointEveCarol)
 
 	// Now we'll test a long disconnection. Disconnect Carol and Eve and
 	// ensure they both detect each other as disabled. Their min backoffs
@@ -633,26 +625,16 @@ func testSendUpdateDisableChannel(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 
 	// Wait for a disable from both Carol and Eve to come through.
 	expectedPolicy.Disabled = true
-	waitForChannelUpdate(
-		t, daveSub,
-		[]expectedChanUpdate{
-			{eve.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPointEveCarol},
-			{carol.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPointEveCarol},
-		},
-	)
+	assertPolicyUpdate(eve, expectedPolicy, chanPointEveCarol)
+	assertPolicyUpdate(carol, expectedPolicy, chanPointEveCarol)
 
 	// Reconnect Carol and Eve, this should cause them to reenable the
 	// channel from both ends after a short delay.
 	net.EnsureConnected(t.t, carol, eve)
 
 	expectedPolicy.Disabled = false
-	waitForChannelUpdate(
-		t, daveSub,
-		[]expectedChanUpdate{
-			{eve.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPointEveCarol},
-			{carol.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPointEveCarol},
-		},
-	)
+	assertPolicyUpdate(eve, expectedPolicy, chanPointEveCarol)
+	assertPolicyUpdate(carol, expectedPolicy, chanPointEveCarol)
 
 	// Now we'll test a short disconnection. Disconnect Carol and Eve, then
 	// reconnect them after one second so that their scheduled disables are
@@ -667,8 +649,10 @@ func testSendUpdateDisableChannel(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 	net.EnsureConnected(t.t, eve, carol)
 
 	// Since the disable should have been canceled by both Carol and Eve, we
-	// expect no channel updates to appear on the network.
-	assertNoChannelUpdates(t, daveSub, 4*time.Second)
+	// expect no channel updates to appear on the network, which means we
+	// expect the polices stay unchanged(Disable == false).
+	assertPolicyUpdate(eve, expectedPolicy, chanPointEveCarol)
+	assertPolicyUpdate(carol, expectedPolicy, chanPointEveCarol)
 
 	// Close Alice's channels with Bob and Carol cooperatively and
 	// unilaterally respectively.
@@ -685,13 +669,8 @@ func testSendUpdateDisableChannel(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 	// Now that the channel close processes have been started, we should
 	// receive an update marking each as disabled.
 	expectedPolicy.Disabled = true
-	waitForChannelUpdate(
-		t, daveSub,
-		[]expectedChanUpdate{
-			{net.Alice.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPointAliceBob},
-			{net.Alice.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPointAliceCarol},
-		},
-	)
+	assertPolicyUpdate(net.Alice, expectedPolicy, chanPointAliceBob)
+	assertPolicyUpdate(net.Alice, expectedPolicy, chanPointAliceCarol)
 
 	// Finally, close the channels by mining the closing transactions.
 	mineBlocks(t, net, 1, 2)
@@ -702,12 +681,8 @@ func testSendUpdateDisableChannel(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 		t.Fatalf("unable to close channel: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	waitForChannelUpdate(
-		t, daveSub,
-		[]expectedChanUpdate{
-			{eve.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPointEveCarol},
-		},
-	)
+	assertPolicyUpdate(eve, expectedPolicy, chanPointEveCarol)
+
 	mineBlocks(t, net, 1, 1)
 
 	// And finally, clean up the force closed channel by mining the
diff --git a/lntest/itest/lnd_multi-hop-payments_test.go b/lntest/itest/lnd_multi-hop-payments_test.go
index 734d5378f..d1b578dc4 100644
--- a/lntest/itest/lnd_multi-hop-payments_test.go
+++ b/lntest/itest/lnd_multi-hop-payments_test.go
@@ -418,14 +418,8 @@ func updateChannelPolicy(t *harnessTest, node *lntest.HarnessNode,
 	}
 
 	// Wait for listener node to receive the channel update from node.
-	ctxt, _ = context.WithTimeout(ctxb, defaultTimeout)
-	graphSub := subscribeGraphNotifications(ctxt, t, listenerNode)
-	defer close(graphSub.quit)
-
-	waitForChannelUpdate(
-		t, graphSub,
-		[]expectedChanUpdate{
-			{node.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPoint},
-		},
+	assertChannelPolicyUpdate(
+		t.t, listenerNode, node.PubKeyStr,
+		expectedPolicy, chanPoint, false,
 	)
 }
diff --git a/lntest/itest/lnd_routing_test.go b/lntest/itest/lnd_routing_test.go
index 6f33d3def..54ea43c13 100644
--- a/lntest/itest/lnd_routing_test.go
+++ b/lntest/itest/lnd_routing_test.go
@@ -1814,15 +1814,9 @@ func testRouteFeeCutoff(net *lntest.NetworkHarness, t *harnessTest) {
 	}
 
 	// Wait for Alice to receive the channel update from Carol.
-	ctxt, _ = context.WithTimeout(ctxb, defaultTimeout)
-	aliceSub := subscribeGraphNotifications(ctxt, t, net.Alice)
-	defer close(aliceSub.quit)
-
-	waitForChannelUpdate(
-		t, aliceSub,
-		[]expectedChanUpdate{
-			{carol.PubKeyStr, expectedPolicy, chanPointCarolDave},
-		},
+	assertChannelPolicyUpdate(
+		t.t, net.Alice, carol.PubKeyStr,
+		expectedPolicy, chanPointCarolDave, false,
 	)
 
 	// We'll also need the channel IDs for Bob's channels in order to