diff --git a/keychain/derivation.go b/keychain/derivation.go
index d908da757..54144efca 100644
--- a/keychain/derivation.go
+++ b/keychain/derivation.go
@@ -90,6 +90,12 @@ const (
 	// a payment, or self stored on disk in a single file containing all
 	// the static channel backups.
 	KeyFamilyStaticBackup KeyFamily = 7
+
+	// KeyFamilyTowerSession is the family of keys that will be used to
+	// derive session keys when negotiating sessions with watchtowers. The
+	// session keys are limited to the lifetime of the session and are used
+	// to increase privacy in the watchtower protocol.
+	KeyFamilyTowerSession KeyFamily = 8
 )
 
 // KeyLocator is a two-tuple that can be used to derive *any* key that has ever
diff --git a/watchtower/wtclient/client.go b/watchtower/wtclient/client.go
index 9bd8e9e8a..8ecb8c6db 100644
--- a/watchtower/wtclient/client.go
+++ b/watchtower/wtclient/client.go
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/btcsuite/btcd/btcec"
 	"github.com/btcsuite/btcd/chaincfg/chainhash"
 	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/input"
-	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/keychain"
 	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/lnwallet"
 	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/lnwire"
 	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/watchtower/wtdb"
@@ -77,7 +76,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	// SecretKeyRing is used to derive the session keys used to communicate
 	// with the tower. The client only stores the KeyLocators internally so
 	// that we never store private keys on disk.
-	SecretKeyRing keychain.SecretKeyRing
+	SecretKeyRing SecretKeyRing
 
 	// Dial connects to an addr using the specified net and returns the
 	// connection object.
@@ -201,15 +200,16 @@ func New(config *Config) (*TowerClient, error) {
 		forceQuit:      make(chan struct{}),
 	}
 	c.negotiator = newSessionNegotiator(&NegotiatorConfig{
-		DB:          cfg.DB,
-		Policy:      cfg.Policy,
-		ChainHash:   cfg.ChainHash,
-		SendMessage: c.sendMessage,
-		ReadMessage: c.readMessage,
-		Dial:        c.dial,
-		Candidates:  newTowerListIterator(tower),
-		MinBackoff:  cfg.MinBackoff,
-		MaxBackoff:  cfg.MaxBackoff,
+		DB:            cfg.DB,
+		SecretKeyRing: cfg.SecretKeyRing,
+		Policy:        cfg.Policy,
+		ChainHash:     cfg.ChainHash,
+		SendMessage:   c.sendMessage,
+		ReadMessage:   c.readMessage,
+		Dial:          c.dial,
+		Candidates:    newTowerListIterator(tower),
+		MinBackoff:    cfg.MinBackoff,
+		MaxBackoff:    cfg.MaxBackoff,
 	})
 
 	// Next, load all active sessions from the db into the client. We will
@@ -221,6 +221,28 @@ func New(config *Config) (*TowerClient, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	// Reload any towers from disk using the tower IDs contained in each
+	// candidate session. We will also rederive any session keys needed to
+	// be able to communicate with the towers and authenticate session
+	// requests. This prevents us from having to store the private keys on
+	// disk.
+	for _, s := range c.candidateSessions {
+		tower, err := c.cfg.DB.LoadTower(s.TowerID)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+
+		sessionPriv, err := DeriveSessionKey(
+			c.cfg.SecretKeyRing, s.KeyIndex,
+		)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+
+		s.Tower = tower
+		s.SessionPrivKey = sessionPriv
+	}
+
 	// Finally, load the sweep pkscripts that have been generated for all
 	// previously registered channels.
 	c.sweepPkScripts, err = c.cfg.DB.FetchChanPkScripts()
@@ -334,9 +356,6 @@ func (c *TowerClient) ForceQuit() {
 	c.forced.Do(func() {
 		log.Infof("Force quitting watchtower client")
 
-		// Cancel log message from stop.
-		close(c.forceQuit)
-
 		// 1. Shutdown the backup queue, which will prevent any further
 		// updates from being accepted. In practice, the links should be
 		// shutdown before the client has been stopped, so all updates
@@ -347,6 +366,7 @@ func (c *TowerClient) ForceQuit() {
 		// dispatcher to exit. The backup queue will signal it's
 		// completion to the dispatcher, which releases the wait group
 		// after all tasks have been assigned to session queues.
+		close(c.forceQuit)
 		c.wg.Wait()
 
 		// 3. Since all valid tasks have been assigned to session
@@ -490,6 +510,9 @@ func (c *TowerClient) backupDispatcher() {
 
 			case <-c.statTicker.C:
 				log.Infof("Client stats: %s", c.stats)
+
+			case <-c.forceQuit:
+				return
 			}
 
 		// No active session queue but have additional sessions.
diff --git a/watchtower/wtclient/client_test.go b/watchtower/wtclient/client_test.go
index dba4275e6..68c34e0e1 100644
--- a/watchtower/wtclient/client_test.go
+++ b/watchtower/wtclient/client_test.go
@@ -379,10 +379,11 @@ type testHarness struct {
 }
 
 type harnessCfg struct {
-	localBalance    lnwire.MilliSatoshi
-	remoteBalance   lnwire.MilliSatoshi
-	policy          wtpolicy.Policy
-	noRegisterChan0 bool
+	localBalance       lnwire.MilliSatoshi
+	remoteBalance      lnwire.MilliSatoshi
+	policy             wtpolicy.Policy
+	noRegisterChan0    bool
+	noAckCreateSession bool
 }
 
 func newHarness(t *testing.T, cfg harnessCfg) *testHarness {
@@ -414,6 +415,7 @@ func newHarness(t *testing.T, cfg harnessCfg) *testHarness {
 		NewAddress: func() (btcutil.Address, error) {
 			return addr, nil
 		},
+		NoAckCreateSession: cfg.noAckCreateSession,
 	}
 
 	server, err := wtserver.New(serverCfg)
@@ -430,10 +432,11 @@ func newHarness(t *testing.T, cfg harnessCfg) *testHarness {
 		Dial: func(string, string) (net.Conn, error) {
 			return nil, nil
 		},
-		DB:           clientDB,
-		AuthDial:     mockNet.AuthDial,
-		PrivateTower: towerAddr,
-		Policy:       cfg.policy,
+		DB:            clientDB,
+		AuthDial:      mockNet.AuthDial,
+		SecretKeyRing: wtmock.NewSecretKeyRing(),
+		PrivateTower:  towerAddr,
+		Policy:        cfg.policy,
 		NewAddress: func() ([]byte, error) {
 			return addrScript, nil
 		},
@@ -729,6 +732,36 @@ func (h *testHarness) waitServerUpdates(hints []wtdb.BreachHint,
 	}
 }
 
+// assertUpdatesForPolicy queries the server db for matches using the provided
+// breach hints, then asserts that each match has a session with the expected
+// policy.
+func (h *testHarness) assertUpdatesForPolicy(hints []wtdb.BreachHint,
+	expPolicy wtpolicy.Policy) {
+
+	// Query for matches on the provided hints.
+	matches, err := h.serverDB.QueryMatches(hints)
+	if err != nil {
+		h.t.Fatalf("unable to query for matches: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Assert that the number of matches is exactly the number of provided
+	// hints.
+	if len(matches) != len(hints) {
+		h.t.Fatalf("expected: %d matches, got: %d", len(hints),
+			len(matches))
+	}
+
+	// Assert that all of the matches correspond to a session with the
+	// expected policy.
+	for _, match := range matches {
+		matchPolicy := match.SessionInfo.Policy
+		if expPolicy != matchPolicy {
+			h.t.Fatalf("expected session to have policy: %v, "+
+				"got: %v", expPolicy, matchPolicy)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 const (
 	localBalance  = lnwire.MilliSatoshi(100000000)
 	remoteBalance = lnwire.MilliSatoshi(200000000)
@@ -1098,6 +1131,119 @@ var clientTests = []clientTest{
 			h.waitServerUpdates(hints, 10*time.Second)
 		},
 	},
+	{
+		name: "create session no ack",
+		cfg: harnessCfg{
+			localBalance:  localBalance,
+			remoteBalance: remoteBalance,
+			policy: wtpolicy.Policy{
+				BlobType:     blob.TypeDefault,
+				MaxUpdates:   5,
+				SweepFeeRate: 1,
+			},
+			noAckCreateSession: true,
+		},
+		fn: func(h *testHarness) {
+			const (
+				chanID     = 0
+				numUpdates = 3
+			)
+
+			// Generate the retributions that will be backed up.
+			hints := h.advanceChannelN(chanID, numUpdates)
+
+			// Now, queue the retributions for backup.
+			h.backupStates(chanID, 0, numUpdates, nil)
+
+			// Since the client is unable to create a session, the
+			// server should have no updates.
+			h.waitServerUpdates(nil, time.Second)
+
+			// Force quit the client since it has queued backups.
+			h.client.ForceQuit()
+
+			// Restart the server and allow it to ack session
+			// creation.
+			h.server.Stop()
+			h.serverCfg.NoAckCreateSession = false
+			h.startServer()
+			defer h.server.Stop()
+
+			// Restart the client with the same policy, which will
+			// immediately try to overwrite the old session with an
+			// identical one.
+			h.startClient()
+			defer h.client.ForceQuit()
+
+			// Now, queue the retributions for backup.
+			h.backupStates(chanID, 0, numUpdates, nil)
+
+			// Wait for all of the updates to be populated in the
+			// server's database.
+			h.waitServerUpdates(hints, 5*time.Second)
+
+			// Assert that the server has updates for the clients
+			// most recent policy.
+			h.assertUpdatesForPolicy(hints, h.clientCfg.Policy)
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		name: "create session no ack change policy",
+		cfg: harnessCfg{
+			localBalance:  localBalance,
+			remoteBalance: remoteBalance,
+			policy: wtpolicy.Policy{
+				BlobType:     blob.TypeDefault,
+				MaxUpdates:   5,
+				SweepFeeRate: 1,
+			},
+			noAckCreateSession: true,
+		},
+		fn: func(h *testHarness) {
+			const (
+				chanID     = 0
+				numUpdates = 3
+			)
+
+			// Generate the retributions that will be backed up.
+			hints := h.advanceChannelN(chanID, numUpdates)
+
+			// Now, queue the retributions for backup.
+			h.backupStates(chanID, 0, numUpdates, nil)
+
+			// Since the client is unable to create a session, the
+			// server should have no updates.
+			h.waitServerUpdates(nil, time.Second)
+
+			// Force quit the client since it has queued backups.
+			h.client.ForceQuit()
+
+			// Restart the server and allow it to ack session
+			// creation.
+			h.server.Stop()
+			h.serverCfg.NoAckCreateSession = false
+			h.startServer()
+			defer h.server.Stop()
+
+			// Restart the client with a new policy, which will
+			// immediately try to overwrite the prior session with
+			// the old policy.
+			h.clientCfg.Policy.SweepFeeRate = 2
+			h.startClient()
+			defer h.client.ForceQuit()
+
+			// Now, queue the retributions for backup.
+			h.backupStates(chanID, 0, numUpdates, nil)
+
+			// Wait for all of the updates to be populated in the
+			// server's database.
+			h.waitServerUpdates(hints, 5*time.Second)
+
+			// Assert that the server has updates for the clients
+			// most recent policy.
+			h.assertUpdatesForPolicy(hints, h.clientCfg.Policy)
+		},
+	},
 }
 
 // TestClient executes the client test suite, asserting the ability to backup
diff --git a/watchtower/wtclient/derivation.go b/watchtower/wtclient/derivation.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cb0caec00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/watchtower/wtclient/derivation.go
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+package wtclient
+
+import (
+	"github.com/btcsuite/btcd/btcec"
+	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/keychain"
+)
+
+// DeriveSessionKey accepts an session key index for an existing session and
+// derives the HD private key to be used to authenticate the brontide transport
+// and authenticate requests sent to the tower. The key will use the
+// keychain.KeyFamilyTowerSession and the provided index, giving a BIP43
+// derivation path of:
+//
+//  * m/1017'/coinType'/8/0/index
+func DeriveSessionKey(keyRing SecretKeyRing,
+	index uint32) (*btcec.PrivateKey, error) {
+
+	return keyRing.DerivePrivKey(keychain.KeyDescriptor{
+		KeyLocator: keychain.KeyLocator{
+			Family: keychain.KeyFamilyTowerSession,
+			Index:  index,
+		},
+	})
+}
diff --git a/watchtower/wtclient/interface.go b/watchtower/wtclient/interface.go
index 5164acea8..5aef86196 100644
--- a/watchtower/wtclient/interface.go
+++ b/watchtower/wtclient/interface.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/btcsuite/btcd/btcec"
 	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/brontide"
+	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/keychain"
 	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/lnwire"
 	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/watchtower/wtdb"
 	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/watchtower/wtserver"
@@ -19,6 +20,17 @@ type DB interface {
 	// sessions.
 	CreateTower(*lnwire.NetAddress) (*wtdb.Tower, error)
 
+	// LoadTower retrieves a tower by its tower ID.
+	LoadTower(uint64) (*wtdb.Tower, error)
+
+	// NextSessionKeyIndex reserves a new session key derivation index for a
+	// particular tower id. The index is reserved for that tower until
+	// CreateClientSession is invoked for that tower and index, at which
+	// point a new index for that tower can be reserved. Multiple calls to
+	// this method before CreateClientSession is invoked should return the
+	// same index.
+	NextSessionKeyIndex(uint64) (uint32, error)
+
 	// CreateClientSession saves a newly negotiated client session to the
 	// client's database. This enables the session to be used across
 	// restarts.
@@ -74,3 +86,11 @@ func AuthDial(localPriv *btcec.PrivateKey, netAddr *lnwire.NetAddress,
 
 	return brontide.Dial(localPriv, netAddr, dialer)
 }
+
+// SecretKeyRing abstracts the ability to derive HD private keys given a
+// description of the derivation path.
+type SecretKeyRing interface {
+	// DerivePrivKey derives the private key from the root seed using a
+	// key descriptor specifying the key's derivation path.
+	DerivePrivKey(loc keychain.KeyDescriptor) (*btcec.PrivateKey, error)
+}
diff --git a/watchtower/wtclient/session_negotiator.go b/watchtower/wtclient/session_negotiator.go
index b62819cb3..e16296fa8 100644
--- a/watchtower/wtclient/session_negotiator.go
+++ b/watchtower/wtclient/session_negotiator.go
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ type NegotiatorConfig struct {
 	// negotiated sessions.
 	DB DB
 
+	// SecretKeyRing allows the client to derive new session private keys
+	// when attempting to negotiate session with a tower.
+	SecretKeyRing SecretKeyRing
+
 	// Candidates is an abstract set of tower candidates that the negotiator
 	// will traverse serially when attempting to negotiate a new session.
 	Candidates TowerCandidateIterator
@@ -224,7 +228,7 @@ func (n *sessionNegotiator) negotiate() {
 
 	// On the first pass, initialize the backoff to our configured min
 	// backoff.
-	backoff := n.cfg.MinBackoff
+	var backoff time.Duration
 
 retryWithBackoff:
 	// If we are retrying, wait out the delay before continuing.
@@ -240,13 +244,24 @@ retryWithBackoff:
 	// iterator to ensure the results are fresh.
 	n.cfg.Candidates.Reset()
 	for {
+		select {
+		case <-n.quit:
+			return
+		default:
+		}
+
 		// Pull the next candidate from our list of addresses.
 		tower, err := n.cfg.Candidates.Next()
 		if err != nil {
-			// We've run out of addresses, double and clamp backoff.
-			backoff *= 2
-			if backoff > n.cfg.MaxBackoff {
-				backoff = n.cfg.MaxBackoff
+			if backoff == 0 {
+				backoff = n.cfg.MinBackoff
+			} else {
+				// We've run out of addresses, double and clamp
+				// backoff.
+				backoff *= 2
+				if backoff > n.cfg.MaxBackoff {
+					backoff = n.cfg.MaxBackoff
+				}
 			}
 
 			log.Debugf("Unable to get new tower candidate, "+
@@ -255,12 +270,23 @@ retryWithBackoff:
 			goto retryWithBackoff
 		}
 
+		towerPub := tower.IdentityKey.SerializeCompressed()
 		log.Debugf("Attempting session negotiation with tower=%x",
-			tower.IdentityKey.SerializeCompressed())
+			towerPub)
+
+		// Before proceeding, we will reserve a session key index to use
+		// with this specific tower. If one is already reserved, the
+		// existing index will be returned.
+		keyIndex, err := n.cfg.DB.NextSessionKeyIndex(tower.ID)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Debugf("Unable to reserve session key index "+
+				"for tower=%x: %v", towerPub, err)
+			continue
+		}
 
 		// We'll now attempt the CreateSession dance with the tower to
 		// get a new session, trying all addresses if necessary.
-		err = n.createSession(tower)
+		err = n.createSession(tower, keyIndex)
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Debugf("Session negotiation with tower=%x "+
 				"failed, trying again -- reason: %v",
@@ -277,22 +303,21 @@ retryWithBackoff:
 // its stored addresses. This method returns after the first successful
 // negotiation, or after all addresses have failed with ErrFailedNegotiation. If
 // the tower has no addresses, ErrNoTowerAddrs is returned.
-func (n *sessionNegotiator) createSession(tower *wtdb.Tower) error {
+func (n *sessionNegotiator) createSession(tower *wtdb.Tower,
+	keyIndex uint32) error {
+
 	// If the tower has no addresses, there's nothing we can do.
 	if len(tower.Addresses) == 0 {
 		return ErrNoTowerAddrs
 	}
 
-	// TODO(conner): create with hdkey at random index
-	sessionPrivKey, err := btcec.NewPrivateKey(btcec.S256())
+	sessionPriv, err := DeriveSessionKey(n.cfg.SecretKeyRing, keyIndex)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	// TODO(conner): write towerAddr+privkey
-
 	for _, lnAddr := range tower.LNAddrs() {
-		err = n.tryAddress(sessionPrivKey, tower, lnAddr)
+		err = n.tryAddress(sessionPriv, keyIndex, tower, lnAddr)
 		switch {
 		case err == ErrPermanentTowerFailure:
 			// TODO(conner): report to iterator? can then be reset
@@ -318,7 +343,7 @@ func (n *sessionNegotiator) createSession(tower *wtdb.Tower) error {
 // returns true if all steps succeed and the new session has been persisted, and
 // fails otherwise.
 func (n *sessionNegotiator) tryAddress(privKey *btcec.PrivateKey,
-	tower *wtdb.Tower, lnAddr *lnwire.NetAddress) error {
+	keyIndex uint32, tower *wtdb.Tower, lnAddr *lnwire.NetAddress) error {
 
 	// Connect to the tower address using our generated session key.
 	conn, err := n.cfg.Dial(privKey, lnAddr)
@@ -394,7 +419,8 @@ func (n *sessionNegotiator) tryAddress(privKey *btcec.PrivateKey,
 		clientSession := &wtdb.ClientSession{
 			TowerID:        tower.ID,
 			Tower:          tower,
-			SessionPrivKey: privKey, // remove after using HD keys
+			KeyIndex:       keyIndex,
+			SessionPrivKey: privKey,
 			ID:             sessionID,
 			Policy:         n.cfg.Policy,
 			SeqNum:         0,
diff --git a/watchtower/wtdb/client_session.go b/watchtower/wtdb/client_session.go
index f7b531fec..583472e66 100644
--- a/watchtower/wtdb/client_session.go
+++ b/watchtower/wtdb/client_session.go
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 
 	"github.com/btcsuite/btcd/btcec"
-	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/keychain"
 	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/lnwire"
 	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/watchtower/wtpolicy"
 )
@@ -30,6 +29,15 @@ var (
 	// LastApplied value greater than any allocated sequence number.
 	ErrUnallocatedLastApplied = errors.New("tower echoed last appiled " +
 		"greater than allocated seqnum")
+
+	// ErrNoReservedKeyIndex signals that a client session could not be
+	// created because no session key index was reserved.
+	ErrNoReservedKeyIndex = errors.New("key index not reserved")
+
+	// ErrIncorrectKeyIndex signals that the client session could not be
+	// created because session key index differs from the reserved key
+	// index.
+	ErrIncorrectKeyIndex = errors.New("incorrect key index")
 )
 
 // ClientSession encapsulates a SessionInfo returned from a successful
@@ -57,14 +65,17 @@ type ClientSession struct {
 	// tower with TowerID.
 	Tower *Tower
 
-	// SessionKeyDesc is the key descriptor used to derive the client's
+	// KeyIndex is the index of key locator used to derive the client's
 	// session key so that it can authenticate with the tower to update its
-	// session.
-	SessionKeyDesc keychain.KeyLocator
+	// session. In order to rederive the private key, the key locator should
+	// use the keychain.KeyFamilyTowerSession key family.
+	KeyIndex uint32
 
 	// SessionPrivKey is the ephemeral secret key used to connect to the
 	// watchtower.
-	// TODO(conner): remove after HD keys
+	//
+	// NOTE: This value is not serialized. It is derived using the KeyIndex
+	// on startup to avoid storing private keys on disk.
 	SessionPrivKey *btcec.PrivateKey
 
 	// Policy holds the negotiated session parameters.
diff --git a/watchtower/wtdb/mock.go b/watchtower/wtdb/mock.go
index fa53d6cf7..902303881 100644
--- a/watchtower/wtdb/mock.go
+++ b/watchtower/wtdb/mock.go
@@ -61,7 +61,8 @@ func (db *MockDB) InsertSessionInfo(info *SessionInfo) error {
 	db.mu.Lock()
 	defer db.mu.Unlock()
 
-	if _, ok := db.sessions[info.ID]; ok {
+	dbInfo, ok := db.sessions[info.ID]
+	if ok && dbInfo.LastApplied > 0 {
 		return ErrSessionAlreadyExists
 	}
 
diff --git a/watchtower/wtdb/tower.go b/watchtower/wtdb/tower.go
index e7213cab4..ff7a48df2 100644
--- a/watchtower/wtdb/tower.go
+++ b/watchtower/wtdb/tower.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package wtdb
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"net"
 	"sync"
 
@@ -8,6 +9,12 @@ import (
 	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/lnwire"
 )
 
+var (
+	// ErrTowerNotFound signals that the target tower was not found in the
+	// database.
+	ErrTowerNotFound = errors.New("tower not found")
+)
+
 // Tower holds the necessary components required to connect to a remote tower.
 // Communication is handled by brontide, and requires both a public key and an
 // address.
diff --git a/watchtower/wtmock/client_db.go b/watchtower/wtmock/client_db.go
index 54f9a697e..a075e7d9f 100644
--- a/watchtower/wtmock/client_db.go
+++ b/watchtower/wtmock/client_db.go
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ type ClientDB struct {
 	activeSessions map[wtdb.SessionID]*wtdb.ClientSession
 	towerIndex     map[towerPK]uint64
 	towers         map[uint64]*wtdb.Tower
+
+	nextIndex uint32
+	indexes   map[uint64]uint32
 }
 
 // NewClientDB initializes a new mock ClientDB.
@@ -31,6 +34,7 @@ func NewClientDB() *ClientDB {
 		activeSessions: make(map[wtdb.SessionID]*wtdb.ClientSession),
 		towerIndex:     make(map[towerPK]uint64),
 		towers:         make(map[uint64]*wtdb.Tower),
+		indexes:        make(map[uint64]uint32),
 	}
 }
 
@@ -64,6 +68,18 @@ func (m *ClientDB) CreateTower(lnAddr *lnwire.NetAddress) (*wtdb.Tower, error) {
 	return tower, nil
 }
 
+// LoadTower retrieves a tower by its tower ID.
+func (m *ClientDB) LoadTower(towerID uint64) (*wtdb.Tower, error) {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+
+	if tower, ok := m.towers[towerID]; ok {
+		return tower, nil
+	}
+
+	return nil, wtdb.ErrTowerNotFound
+}
+
 // MarkBackupIneligible records that particular commit height is ineligible for
 // backup. This allows the client to track which updates it should not attempt
 // to retry after startup.
@@ -90,16 +106,29 @@ func (m *ClientDB) CreateClientSession(session *wtdb.ClientSession) error {
 	m.mu.Lock()
 	defer m.mu.Unlock()
 
+	// Ensure that a session key index has been reserved for this tower.
+	keyIndex, ok := m.indexes[session.TowerID]
+	if !ok {
+		return wtdb.ErrNoReservedKeyIndex
+	}
+
+	// Ensure that the session's index matches the reserved index.
+	if keyIndex != session.KeyIndex {
+		return wtdb.ErrIncorrectKeyIndex
+	}
+
+	// Remove the key index reservation for this tower. Once committed, this
+	// permits us to create another session with this tower.
+	delete(m.indexes, session.TowerID)
+
 	m.activeSessions[session.ID] = &wtdb.ClientSession{
 		TowerID:          session.TowerID,
-		Tower:            session.Tower,
-		SessionKeyDesc:   session.SessionKeyDesc,
-		SessionPrivKey:   session.SessionPrivKey,
+		KeyIndex:         session.KeyIndex,
 		ID:               session.ID,
 		Policy:           session.Policy,
 		SeqNum:           session.SeqNum,
 		TowerLastApplied: session.TowerLastApplied,
-		RewardPkScript:   session.RewardPkScript,
+		RewardPkScript:   cloneBytes(session.RewardPkScript),
 		CommittedUpdates: make(map[uint16]*wtdb.CommittedUpdate),
 		AckedUpdates:     make(map[uint16]wtdb.BackupID),
 	}
@@ -107,6 +136,27 @@ func (m *ClientDB) CreateClientSession(session *wtdb.ClientSession) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// NextSessionKeyIndex reserves a new session key derivation index for a
+// particular tower id. The index is reserved for that tower until
+// CreateClientSession is invoked for that tower and index, at which point a new
+// index for that tower can be reserved. Multiple calls to this method before
+// CreateClientSession is invoked should return the same index.
+func (m *ClientDB) NextSessionKeyIndex(towerID uint64) (uint32, error) {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+
+	if index, ok := m.indexes[towerID]; ok {
+		return index, nil
+	}
+
+	index := m.nextIndex
+	m.indexes[towerID] = index
+
+	m.nextIndex++
+
+	return index, nil
+}
+
 // CommitUpdate persists the CommittedUpdate provided in the slot for (session,
 // seqNum). This allows the client to retransmit this update on startup.
 func (m *ClientDB) CommitUpdate(id *wtdb.SessionID, seqNum uint16,
@@ -217,7 +267,12 @@ func (m *ClientDB) AddChanPkScript(chanID lnwire.ChannelID, pkScript []byte) err
 }
 
 func cloneBytes(b []byte) []byte {
+	if b == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	bb := make([]byte, len(b))
 	copy(bb, b)
+
 	return bb
 }
diff --git a/watchtower/wtmock/keyring.go b/watchtower/wtmock/keyring.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f18a0fa8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/watchtower/wtmock/keyring.go
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+package wtmock
+
+import (
+	"sync"
+
+	"github.com/btcsuite/btcd/btcec"
+	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/keychain"
+)
+
+// SecretKeyRing is a mock, in-memory implementation for deriving private keys.
+type SecretKeyRing struct {
+	mu   sync.Mutex
+	keys map[keychain.KeyLocator]*btcec.PrivateKey
+}
+
+// NewSecretKeyRing creates a new mock SecretKeyRing.
+func NewSecretKeyRing() *SecretKeyRing {
+	return &SecretKeyRing{
+		keys: make(map[keychain.KeyLocator]*btcec.PrivateKey),
+	}
+}
+
+// DerivePrivKey derives the private key for a given key descriptor. If
+// this method is called twice with the same argument, it will return the same
+// private key.
+func (m *SecretKeyRing) DerivePrivKey(
+	desc keychain.KeyDescriptor) (*btcec.PrivateKey, error) {
+
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+
+	if key, ok := m.keys[desc.KeyLocator]; ok {
+		return key, nil
+	}
+
+	privKey, err := btcec.NewPrivateKey(btcec.S256())
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	m.keys[desc.KeyLocator] = privKey
+
+	return privKey, nil
+}
diff --git a/watchtower/wtserver/create_session.go b/watchtower/wtserver/create_session.go
index e948d8b9a..411742e0a 100644
--- a/watchtower/wtserver/create_session.go
+++ b/watchtower/wtserver/create_session.go
@@ -21,45 +21,26 @@ func (s *Server) handleCreateSession(peer Peer, id *wtdb.SessionID,
 	existingInfo, err := s.cfg.DB.GetSessionInfo(id)
 	switch {
 
+	// We already have a session, though it is currently unused. We'll allow
+	// the client to recommit the session if it wanted to change the policy.
+	case err == nil && existingInfo.LastApplied == 0:
+
 	// We already have a session corresponding to this session id, return an
 	// error signaling that it already exists in our database. We return the
 	// reward address to the client in case they were not able to process
 	// our reply earlier.
-	case err == nil:
+	case err == nil && existingInfo.LastApplied > 0:
 		log.Debugf("Already have session for %s", id)
 		return s.replyCreateSession(
 			peer, id, wtwire.CreateSessionCodeAlreadyExists,
-			existingInfo.RewardAddress,
+			existingInfo.LastApplied, existingInfo.RewardAddress,
 		)
 
 	// Some other database error occurred, return a temporary failure.
 	case err != wtdb.ErrSessionNotFound:
 		log.Errorf("unable to load session info for %s", id)
 		return s.replyCreateSession(
-			peer, id, wtwire.CodeTemporaryFailure, nil,
-		)
-	}
-
-	// Now that we've established that this session does not exist in the
-	// database, retrieve the sweep address that will be given to the
-	// client. This address is to be included by the client when signing
-	// sweep transactions destined for this tower, if its negotiated output
-	// is not dust.
-	rewardAddress, err := s.cfg.NewAddress()
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("unable to generate reward addr for %s", id)
-		return s.replyCreateSession(
-			peer, id, wtwire.CodeTemporaryFailure, nil,
-		)
-	}
-
-	// Construct the pkscript the client should pay to when signing justice
-	// transactions for this session.
-	rewardScript, err := txscript.PayToAddrScript(rewardAddress)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("unable to generate reward script for %s", id)
-		return s.replyCreateSession(
-			peer, id, wtwire.CodeTemporaryFailure, nil,
+			peer, id, wtwire.CodeTemporaryFailure, 0, nil,
 		)
 	}
 
@@ -68,10 +49,39 @@ func (s *Server) handleCreateSession(peer Peer, id *wtdb.SessionID,
 		log.Debugf("Rejecting CreateSession from %s, unsupported blob "+
 			"type %s", id, req.BlobType)
 		return s.replyCreateSession(
-			peer, id, wtwire.CreateSessionCodeRejectBlobType, nil,
+			peer, id, wtwire.CreateSessionCodeRejectBlobType, 0,
+			nil,
 		)
 	}
 
+	// Now that we've established that this session does not exist in the
+	// database, retrieve the sweep address that will be given to the
+	// client. This address is to be included by the client when signing
+	// sweep transactions destined for this tower, if its negotiated output
+	// is not dust.
+	var rewardScript []byte
+	if req.BlobType.Has(blob.FlagReward) {
+		rewardAddress, err := s.cfg.NewAddress()
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Errorf("Unable to generate reward addr for %s: %v",
+				id, err)
+			return s.replyCreateSession(
+				peer, id, wtwire.CodeTemporaryFailure, 0, nil,
+			)
+		}
+
+		// Construct the pkscript the client should pay to when signing
+		// justice transactions for this session.
+		rewardScript, err = txscript.PayToAddrScript(rewardAddress)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Errorf("Unable to generate reward script for "+
+				"%s: %v", id, err)
+			return s.replyCreateSession(
+				peer, id, wtwire.CodeTemporaryFailure, 0, nil,
+			)
+		}
+	}
+
 	// TODO(conner): create invoice for upfront payment
 
 	// Assemble the session info using the agreed upon parameters, reward
@@ -94,14 +104,14 @@ func (s *Server) handleCreateSession(peer Peer, id *wtdb.SessionID,
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("unable to create session for %s", id)
 		return s.replyCreateSession(
-			peer, id, wtwire.CodeTemporaryFailure, nil,
+			peer, id, wtwire.CodeTemporaryFailure, 0, nil,
 		)
 	}
 
 	log.Infof("Accepted session for %s", id)
 
 	return s.replyCreateSession(
-		peer, id, wtwire.CodeOK, rewardScript,
+		peer, id, wtwire.CodeOK, 0, rewardScript,
 	)
 }
 
@@ -110,11 +120,19 @@ func (s *Server) handleCreateSession(peer Peer, id *wtdb.SessionID,
 // Otherwise, this method returns a connection error to ensure we don't continue
 // communication with the client.
 func (s *Server) replyCreateSession(peer Peer, id *wtdb.SessionID,
-	code wtwire.ErrorCode, data []byte) error {
+	code wtwire.ErrorCode, lastApplied uint16, data []byte) error {
+
+	if s.cfg.NoAckCreateSession {
+		return &connFailure{
+			ID:   *id,
+			Code: code,
+		}
+	}
 
 	msg := &wtwire.CreateSessionReply{
-		Code: code,
-		Data: data,
+		Code:        code,
+		LastApplied: lastApplied,
+		Data:        data,
 	}
 
 	err := s.sendMessage(peer, msg)
@@ -131,6 +149,6 @@ func (s *Server) replyCreateSession(peer Peer, id *wtdb.SessionID,
 	// disconnect the client.
 	return &connFailure{
 		ID:   *id,
-		Code: uint16(code),
+		Code: code,
 	}
 }
diff --git a/watchtower/wtserver/delete_session.go b/watchtower/wtserver/delete_session.go
index a5b517c12..00b9b1658 100644
--- a/watchtower/wtserver/delete_session.go
+++ b/watchtower/wtserver/delete_session.go
@@ -52,6 +52,6 @@ func (s *Server) replyDeleteSession(peer Peer, id *wtdb.SessionID,
 	// disconnect the client.
 	return &connFailure{
 		ID:   *id,
-		Code: uint16(code),
+		Code: code,
 	}
 }
diff --git a/watchtower/wtserver/server.go b/watchtower/wtserver/server.go
index 4a49c3ad4..d4ee88741 100644
--- a/watchtower/wtserver/server.go
+++ b/watchtower/wtserver/server.go
@@ -56,6 +56,10 @@ type Config struct {
 	// ChainHash identifies the network that the server is watching.
 	ChainHash chainhash.Hash
 
+	// NoAckCreateSession causes the server to not reply to create session
+	// requests, this should only be used for testing.
+	NoAckCreateSession bool
+
 	// NoAckUpdates causes the server to not acknowledge state updates, this
 	// should only be used for testing.
 	NoAckUpdates bool
@@ -283,12 +287,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleClient(peer Peer) {
 // error code.
 type connFailure struct {
 	ID   wtdb.SessionID
-	Code uint16
+	Code wtwire.ErrorCode
 }
 
 // Error displays the SessionID and Code that caused the connection failure.
 func (f *connFailure) Error() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("connection with %s failed with code=%v",
+	return fmt.Sprintf("connection with %s failed with code=%s",
 		f.ID, f.Code,
 	)
 }
diff --git a/watchtower/wtserver/server_test.go b/watchtower/wtserver/server_test.go
index d9e3bec50..6d99180fd 100644
--- a/watchtower/wtserver/server_test.go
+++ b/watchtower/wtserver/server_test.go
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ var (
 	addrScript, _ = txscript.PayToAddrScript(addr)
 
 	testnetChainHash = *chaincfg.TestNet3Params.GenesisHash
+
+	rewardType = (blob.FlagCommitOutputs | blob.FlagReward).Type()
 )
 
 // randPubKey generates a new secp keypair, and returns the public key.
@@ -152,16 +154,17 @@ func TestServerOnlyAcceptOnePeer(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 type createSessionTestCase struct {
-	name        string
-	initMsg     *wtwire.Init
-	createMsg   *wtwire.CreateSession
-	expReply    *wtwire.CreateSessionReply
-	expDupReply *wtwire.CreateSessionReply
+	name            string
+	initMsg         *wtwire.Init
+	createMsg       *wtwire.CreateSession
+	expReply        *wtwire.CreateSessionReply
+	expDupReply     *wtwire.CreateSessionReply
+	sendStateUpdate bool
 }
 
 var createSessionTests = []createSessionTestCase{
 	{
-		name: "reject duplicate session create",
+		name: "duplicate session create",
 		initMsg: wtwire.NewInitMessage(
 			lnwire.NewRawFeatureVector(),
 			testnetChainHash,
@@ -173,12 +176,58 @@ var createSessionTests = []createSessionTestCase{
 			RewardRate:   0,
 			SweepFeeRate: 1,
 		},
+		expReply: &wtwire.CreateSessionReply{
+			Code: wtwire.CodeOK,
+			Data: []byte{},
+		},
+		expDupReply: &wtwire.CreateSessionReply{
+			Code: wtwire.CodeOK,
+			Data: []byte{},
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		name: "duplicate session create after use",
+		initMsg: wtwire.NewInitMessage(
+			lnwire.NewRawFeatureVector(),
+			testnetChainHash,
+		),
+		createMsg: &wtwire.CreateSession{
+			BlobType:     blob.TypeDefault,
+			MaxUpdates:   1000,
+			RewardBase:   0,
+			RewardRate:   0,
+			SweepFeeRate: 1,
+		},
+		expReply: &wtwire.CreateSessionReply{
+			Code: wtwire.CodeOK,
+			Data: []byte{},
+		},
+		expDupReply: &wtwire.CreateSessionReply{
+			Code:        wtwire.CreateSessionCodeAlreadyExists,
+			LastApplied: 1,
+			Data:        []byte{},
+		},
+		sendStateUpdate: true,
+	},
+	{
+		name: "duplicate session create reward",
+		initMsg: wtwire.NewInitMessage(
+			lnwire.NewRawFeatureVector(),
+			testnetChainHash,
+		),
+		createMsg: &wtwire.CreateSession{
+			BlobType:     rewardType,
+			MaxUpdates:   1000,
+			RewardBase:   0,
+			RewardRate:   0,
+			SweepFeeRate: 1,
+		},
 		expReply: &wtwire.CreateSessionReply{
 			Code: wtwire.CodeOK,
 			Data: addrScript,
 		},
 		expDupReply: &wtwire.CreateSessionReply{
-			Code: wtwire.CreateSessionCodeAlreadyExists,
+			Code: wtwire.CodeOK,
 			Data: addrScript,
 		},
 	},
@@ -251,6 +300,18 @@ func testServerCreateSession(t *testing.T, i int, test createSessionTestCase) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	if test.sendStateUpdate {
+		peer = wtmock.NewMockPeer(localPub, peerPub, nil, 0)
+		connect(t, s, peer, test.initMsg, timeoutDuration)
+		update := &wtwire.StateUpdate{
+			SeqNum:     1,
+			IsComplete: 1,
+		}
+		sendMsg(t, update, peer, timeoutDuration)
+
+		assertConnClosed(t, peer, 2*timeoutDuration)
+	}
+
 	// Simulate a peer with the same session id connection to the server
 	// again.
 	peer = wtmock.NewMockPeer(localPub, peerPub, nil, 0)
@@ -705,7 +766,7 @@ func TestServerDeleteSession(t *testing.T) {
 			send: createSession,
 			recv: &wtwire.CreateSessionReply{
 				Code: wtwire.CodeOK,
-				Data: addrScript,
+				Data: []byte{},
 			},
 			assert: func(t *testing.T) {
 				// Both peers should have sessions.
diff --git a/watchtower/wtserver/state_update.go b/watchtower/wtserver/state_update.go
index 7b3e0941b..63a0a37d6 100644
--- a/watchtower/wtserver/state_update.go
+++ b/watchtower/wtserver/state_update.go
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ func (s *Server) handleStateUpdate(peer Peer, id *wtdb.SessionID,
 	if s.cfg.NoAckUpdates {
 		return &connFailure{
 			ID:   *id,
-			Code: uint16(failCode),
+			Code: failCode,
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -152,6 +152,6 @@ func (s *Server) replyStateUpdate(peer Peer, id *wtdb.SessionID,
 	// disconnect the client.
 	return &connFailure{
 		ID:   *id,
-		Code: uint16(code),
+		Code: code,
 	}
 }
diff --git a/watchtower/wtwire/create_session_reply.go b/watchtower/wtwire/create_session_reply.go
index 9b63b08c7..82d2b6ab4 100644
--- a/watchtower/wtwire/create_session_reply.go
+++ b/watchtower/wtwire/create_session_reply.go
@@ -43,6 +43,12 @@ type CreateSessionReply struct {
 	// Code will be non-zero if the watchtower rejected the session init.
 	Code CreateSessionCode
 
+	// LastApplied is the tower's last accepted sequence number for the
+	// session. This is useful when the session already exists but the
+	// client doesn't realize it's already used the session, such as after a
+	// restoration.
+	LastApplied uint16
+
 	// Data is a byte slice returned the caller of the message, and is to be
 	// interpreted according to the error Code. When the response is
 	// CreateSessionCodeOK, data encodes the reward address to be included in
@@ -63,6 +69,7 @@ var _ Message = (*CreateSessionReply)(nil)
 func (m *CreateSessionReply) Decode(r io.Reader, pver uint32) error {
 	return ReadElements(r,
 		&m.Code,
+		&m.LastApplied,
 		&m.Data,
 	)
 }
@@ -74,6 +81,7 @@ func (m *CreateSessionReply) Decode(r io.Reader, pver uint32) error {
 func (m *CreateSessionReply) Encode(w io.Writer, pver uint32) error {
 	return WriteElements(w,
 		m.Code,
+		m.LastApplied,
 		m.Data,
 	)
 }
diff --git a/watchtower/wtwire/delete_session_reply.go b/watchtower/wtwire/delete_session_reply.go
index 059d189e8..e25664a5d 100644
--- a/watchtower/wtwire/delete_session_reply.go
+++ b/watchtower/wtwire/delete_session_reply.go
@@ -12,8 +12,6 @@ const (
 	// client side, or that the tower had already deleted the session in a
 	// prior request that the client may not have received.
 	DeleteSessionCodeNotFound DeleteSessionCode = 80
-
-	// TODO(conner): add String method after wtclient is merged
 )
 
 // DeleteSessionReply is a message sent in response to a client's DeleteSession
diff --git a/watchtower/wtwire/error_code.go b/watchtower/wtwire/error_code.go
index 2f4bc6bb3..c614f2a6e 100644
--- a/watchtower/wtwire/error_code.go
+++ b/watchtower/wtwire/error_code.go
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ func (c ErrorCode) String() string {
 		return "StateUpdateCodeMaxUpdatesExceeded"
 	case StateUpdateCodeSeqNumOutOfOrder:
 		return "StateUpdateCodeSeqNumOutOfOrder"
+	case DeleteSessionCodeNotFound:
+		return "DeleteSessionCodeNotFound"
 	default:
 		return fmt.Sprintf("UnknownErrorCode: %d", c)
 	}