diff --git a/lnwire/lnwire.go b/lnwire/lnwire.go
index b47b0d5a..705ab358 100644
--- a/lnwire/lnwire.go
+++ b/lnwire/lnwire.go
@@ -86,6 +86,12 @@ func writeElement(w io.Writer, element interface{}) error {
 		if _, err := w.Write(b[:]); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+	case FundingFlag:
+		var b [1]byte
+		b[0] = uint8(e)
+		if _, err := w.Write(b[:]); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	case uint16:
 		var b [2]byte
 		binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(b[:], e)
@@ -388,6 +394,12 @@ func readElement(r io.Reader, element interface{}) error {
 			return err
 		}
 		*e = b[0]
+	case *FundingFlag:
+		var b [1]uint8
+		if _, err := r.Read(b[:]); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		*e = FundingFlag(b[0])
 	case *uint16:
 		var b [2]byte
 		if _, err := io.ReadFull(r, b[:]); err != nil {
diff --git a/lnwire/lnwire_test.go b/lnwire/lnwire_test.go
index 7636297d..43521dd9 100644
--- a/lnwire/lnwire_test.go
+++ b/lnwire/lnwire_test.go
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ func TestLightningWireProtocol(t *testing.T) {
 				FeePerKiloWeight: uint32(r.Int63()),
 				CsvDelay:         uint16(r.Int31()),
 				MaxAcceptedHTLCs: uint16(r.Int31()),
-				ChannelFlags:     byte(r.Int31()),
+				ChannelFlags:     FundingFlag(uint8(r.Int31())),
 			}
 
 			if _, err := r.Read(req.ChainHash[:]); err != nil {
diff --git a/lnwire/open_channel.go b/lnwire/open_channel.go
index 1029cbdd..9f7305e7 100644
--- a/lnwire/open_channel.go
+++ b/lnwire/open_channel.go
@@ -8,6 +8,17 @@ import (
 	"github.com/roasbeef/btcutil"
 )
 
+// FundingFlag represents the possible bit mask values for the ChannelFlags
+// field within the OpenChannel struct.
+type FundingFlag uint8
+
+const (
+	// FFAnnounceChannel is a FundingFlag that when set, indicates the
+	// initiator of a funding flow wishes to announce the channel to the
+	// greater network.
+	FFAnnounceChannel FundingFlag = 1 << iota
+)
+
 // OpenChannel is the message Alice sends to Bob if we should like to create a
 // channel with Bob where she's the sole provider of funds to the channel.
 // Single funder channels simplify the initial funding workflow, are supported
@@ -101,7 +112,7 @@ type OpenChannel struct {
 	// channel to specify further behavior surrounding the channel.
 	// Currently, the least significant bit of this bit field indicates the
 	// initiator of the channel wishes to advertise this channel publicly.
-	ChannelFlags byte
+	ChannelFlags FundingFlag
 }
 
 // A compile time check to ensure OpenChannel implements the lnwire.Message