diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d778c4a54..1e269fd04 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -87,9 +87,8 @@ cli/lightning-cli fundchannel <node_id> <amount>
 ```
 
 This opens a connection and, on top of that connection, then opens a channel.
-The funding transaction needs 6 confirmations in order for the channel to be usable.
-You can check the status of the channel using `cli/lightning-cli getpeers`, which after 1 confirmation should say that the status is in _Normal operation_.
-After 6 confirmations you can use `cli/lightning-cli getchannels` to verify that the channel shows up in the list of open channels.
+The funding transaction needs 1 confirmations in order for the channel to be usable, and 6 to be broadcast for others to use.
+You can check the status of the channel using `cli/lightning-cli getpeers`, which after 1 confirmation should say that `state` is `CHANNELD_NORMAL`; after 6 confirmations you can use `cli/lightning-cli getchannels` to verify that the `public` field is now `true`.
 
 ### Receiving and receiving payments
 
diff --git a/gossipd/gossip.c b/gossipd/gossip.c
index 9a4a83263..bc82e79bb 100644
--- a/gossipd/gossip.c
+++ b/gossipd/gossip.c
@@ -1059,6 +1059,7 @@ static struct io_plan *getchannels_req(struct io_conn *conn, struct daemon *daem
 			entries[num_chans].destination = n->out[j]->dst->id;
 			entries[num_chans].active = n->out[j]->active;
 			entries[num_chans].flags = n->out[j]->flags;
+			entries[num_chans].public = (n->out[j]->channel_update != NULL);
 			entries[num_chans].short_channel_id = n->out[j]->short_channel_id;
 			entries[num_chans].last_update_timestamp = n->out[j]->last_timestamp;
 			if (entries[num_chans].last_update_timestamp >= 0) {
diff --git a/lightningd/gossip_control.c b/lightningd/gossip_control.c
index 6e2dd4984..48d285eba 100644
--- a/lightningd/gossip_control.c
+++ b/lightningd/gossip_control.c
@@ -292,6 +292,7 @@ static void json_getchannels_reply(struct subd *gossip, const u8 *reply,
 					       &entries[i].short_channel_id));
 		json_add_num(response, "flags", entries[i].flags);
 		json_add_bool(response, "active", entries[i].active);
+		json_add_bool(response, "public", entries[i].public);
 		if (entries[i].last_update_timestamp >= 0) {
 			json_add_num(response, "last_update",
 				     entries[i].last_update_timestamp);
diff --git a/lightningd/gossip_msg.c b/lightningd/gossip_msg.c
index 6ad59863a..2b14cde09 100644
--- a/lightningd/gossip_msg.c
+++ b/lightningd/gossip_msg.c
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ void fromwire_gossip_getchannels_entry(const u8 **pptr, size_t *max,
 	fromwire_pubkey(pptr, max, &entry->destination);
 	entry->active = fromwire_bool(pptr, max);
 	entry->flags = fromwire_u16(pptr, max);
+	entry->public = fromwire_bool(pptr, max);
 	entry->last_update_timestamp = fromwire_u64(pptr, max);
 	if (entry->last_update_timestamp >= 0) {
 		entry->base_fee_msat = fromwire_u32(pptr, max);
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ void towire_gossip_getchannels_entry(
 	towire_pubkey(pptr, &entry->destination);
 	towire_bool(pptr, entry->active);
 	towire_u16(pptr, entry->flags);
+	towire_bool(pptr, entry->public);
 	towire_u64(pptr, entry->last_update_timestamp);
 	if (entry->last_update_timestamp >= 0) {
 		towire_u32(pptr, entry->base_fee_msat);
diff --git a/lightningd/gossip_msg.h b/lightningd/gossip_msg.h
index d594f444a..d7ffbd856 100644
--- a/lightningd/gossip_msg.h
+++ b/lightningd/gossip_msg.h
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ struct gossip_getchannels_entry {
 	bool active;
 	struct short_channel_id short_channel_id;
 	u16 flags;
+	bool public;
 	s64 last_update_timestamp; /* -1 means never */
 	/* These are only set if last_update_timestamp >= 0 */
 	u32 delay;
diff --git a/tests/test_lightningd.py b/tests/test_lightningd.py
index a9e7f5d2e..7156ef4f6 100644
--- a/tests/test_lightningd.py
+++ b/tests/test_lightningd.py
@@ -1342,6 +1342,17 @@ class LightningDTests(BaseLightningDTests):
         # Make sure we can route through the channel, will raise on failure
         l1.rpc.getroute(l2.info['id'], 100, 1)
 
+        # Outgoing should be active, but not public.
+        channels = l1.rpc.getchannels()['channels']
+        assert len(channels) == 1
+        assert channels[0]['active'] == True
+        assert channels[0]['public'] == False
+
+        channels = l2.rpc.getchannels()['channels']
+        assert len(channels) == 1
+        assert channels[0]['active'] == True
+        assert channels[0]['public'] == False
+
         # Now proceed to funding-depth and do a full gossip round
         l1.bitcoin.generate_block(5)
         # Could happen in either order.
@@ -1358,9 +1369,16 @@ class LightningDTests(BaseLightningDTests):
         l1.daemon.wait_for_log('peer_in WIRE_CHANNEL_UPDATE')
         l2.daemon.wait_for_log('peer_in WIRE_CHANNEL_UPDATE')
 
+        # Now should be active and public.
         channels = l1.rpc.getchannels()['channels']
         assert len(channels) == 2
-        wait_for(lambda: [c['active'] for c in channels] == [True, True])
+        assert [c['active'] for c in channels] == [True, True]
+        assert [c['public'] for c in channels] == [True, True]
+
+        channels = l2.rpc.getchannels()['channels']
+        assert len(channels) == 2
+        assert [c['active'] for c in channels] == [True, True]
+        assert [c['public'] for c in channels] == [True, True]
 
     def ping_tests(self, l1, l2):
         # 0-byte pong gives just type + length field.