diff --git a/channeldb/db.go b/channeldb/db.go
index c2842b18..43ad6cde 100644
--- a/channeldb/db.go
+++ b/channeldb/db.go
@@ -25,6 +25,12 @@ const (
 	dbFilePermission = 0600
 )
 
+var (
+	// ErrDryRunMigrationOK signals that a migration executed successful,
+	// but we intentionally did not commit the result.
+	ErrDryRunMigrationOK = errors.New("Dry run migration successful")
+)
+
 // migration is a function which takes a prior outdated version of the database
 // instances and mutates the key/bucket structure to arrive at a more
 // up-to-date version of the database.
@@ -145,6 +151,7 @@ type DB struct {
 	dbPath string
 	graph  *ChannelGraph
 	clock  clock.Clock
+	dryRun bool
 }
 
 // Open opens an existing channeldb. Any necessary schemas migrations due to
@@ -174,6 +181,7 @@ func Open(dbPath string, modifiers ...OptionModifier) (*DB, error) {
 		Backend: bdb,
 		dbPath:  dbPath,
 		clock:   opts.clock,
+		dryRun:  opts.dryRun,
 	}
 	chanDB.graph = newChannelGraph(
 		chanDB, opts.RejectCacheSize, opts.ChannelCacheSize,
@@ -1227,7 +1235,18 @@ func (d *DB) syncVersions(versions []version) error {
 		}
 
 		meta.DbVersionNumber = latestVersion
-		return putMeta(meta, tx)
+		err := putMeta(meta, tx)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		// In dry-run mode, return an error to prevent the transaction
+		// from committing.
+		if d.dryRun {
+			return ErrDryRunMigrationOK
+		}
+
+		return nil
 	})
 }
 
diff --git a/channeldb/db_test.go b/channeldb/db_test.go
index e678d2a5..242b70ca 100644
--- a/channeldb/db_test.go
+++ b/channeldb/db_test.go
@@ -45,6 +45,16 @@ func TestOpenWithCreate(t *testing.T) {
 	if !fileExists(dbPath) {
 		t.Fatalf("channeldb failed to create data directory")
 	}
+
+	// Now, reopen the same db in dry run migration mode. Since we have not
+	// applied any migrations, this should ignore the flag and not fail.
+	cdb, err = Open(dbPath, OptionDryRunMigration(true))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable to create channeldb: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := cdb.Close(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable to close channeldb: %v", err)
+	}
 }
 
 // TestWipe tests that the database wipe operation completes successfully
diff --git a/channeldb/meta_test.go b/channeldb/meta_test.go
index 1933c0e1..a18932f4 100644
--- a/channeldb/meta_test.go
+++ b/channeldb/meta_test.go
@@ -12,13 +12,14 @@ import (
 // applyMigration is a helper test function that encapsulates the general steps
 // which are needed to properly check the result of applying migration function.
 func applyMigration(t *testing.T, beforeMigration, afterMigration func(d *DB),
-	migrationFunc migration, shouldFail bool) {
+	migrationFunc migration, shouldFail bool, dryRun bool) {
 
 	cdb, cleanUp, err := makeTestDB()
 	defer cleanUp()
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
+	cdb.dryRun = dryRun
 
 	// Create a test node that will be our source node.
 	testNode, err := createTestVertex(cdb)
@@ -54,6 +55,9 @@ func applyMigration(t *testing.T, beforeMigration, afterMigration func(d *DB),
 
 	defer func() {
 		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			if dryRun && r != ErrDryRunMigrationOK {
+				t.Fatalf("expected dry run migration OK")
+			}
 			err = errors.New(r)
 		}
 
@@ -256,7 +260,8 @@ func TestMigrationWithPanic(t *testing.T) {
 		beforeMigrationFunc,
 		afterMigrationFunc,
 		migrationWithPanic,
-		true)
+		true,
+		false)
 }
 
 // TestMigrationWithFatal asserts that migrations which fail do not modify the
@@ -330,7 +335,8 @@ func TestMigrationWithFatal(t *testing.T) {
 		beforeMigrationFunc,
 		afterMigrationFunc,
 		migrationWithFatal,
-		true)
+		true,
+		false)
 }
 
 // TestMigrationWithoutErrors asserts that a successful migration has its
@@ -404,6 +410,7 @@ func TestMigrationWithoutErrors(t *testing.T) {
 		beforeMigrationFunc,
 		afterMigrationFunc,
 		migrationWithoutErrors,
+		false,
 		false)
 }
 
@@ -446,3 +453,38 @@ func TestMigrationReversion(t *testing.T) {
 			"want: %v, got: %v", ErrDBReversion, err)
 	}
 }
+
+// TestMigrationDryRun ensures that opening the database in dry run migration
+// mode will fail and not commit the migration.
+func TestMigrationDryRun(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// Nothing to do, will inspect version number.
+	beforeMigrationFunc := func(d *DB) {}
+
+	// Check that version of database version is not modified.
+	afterMigrationFunc := func(d *DB) {
+		err := kvdb.View(d, func(tx kvdb.ReadTx) error {
+			meta, err := d.FetchMeta(nil)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+
+			if meta.DbVersionNumber != 0 {
+				t.Fatal("dry run migration was not aborted")
+			}
+
+			return nil
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("unable to apply after func: %v", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	applyMigration(t,
+		beforeMigrationFunc,
+		afterMigrationFunc,
+		func(kvdb.RwTx) error { return nil },
+		true,
+		true)
+}
diff --git a/channeldb/options.go b/channeldb/options.go
index 90185f2c..b84dd199 100644
--- a/channeldb/options.go
+++ b/channeldb/options.go
@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ type Options struct {
 
 	// clock is the time source used by the database.
 	clock clock.Clock
+
+	// dryRun will fail to commit a successful migration when opening the
+	// database if set to true.
+	dryRun bool
 }
 
 // DefaultOptions returns an Options populated with default values.
@@ -73,3 +77,11 @@ func OptionClock(clock clock.Clock) OptionModifier {
 		o.clock = clock
 	}
 }
+
+// OptionDryRunMigration controls whether or not to intentially fail to commit a
+// successful migration that occurs when opening the database.
+func OptionDryRunMigration(dryRun bool) OptionModifier {
+	return func(o *Options) {
+		o.dryRun = dryRun
+	}
+}