diff --git a/libs/gl-testing/tests/test_gl_node.py b/libs/gl-testing/tests/test_gl_node.py
index 0c4d69f90..e862da42d 100644
--- a/libs/gl-testing/tests/test_gl_node.py
+++ b/libs/gl-testing/tests/test_gl_node.py
@@ -141,6 +141,8 @@ def test_configure_close_to_addr(node_factory, clients, bitcoind):
     l2.rpc.fundchannel(c.node_id.hex(), 'all')
     bitcoind.generate_block(1, wait_for_mempool=1)
 
+    # the channels array is optional
+    wait_for(lambda: hasattr(gl1.list_peers().peers[0], "channels"))
     wait_for(lambda:
         gl1.list_peers().peers[0].channels[0].state == 2
     )
diff --git a/libs/gl-testing/tests/test_node.py b/libs/gl-testing/tests/test_node.py
index f7d2c8b7c..213aaf3a7 100644
--- a/libs/gl-testing/tests/test_node.py
+++ b/libs/gl-testing/tests/test_node.py
@@ -163,6 +163,9 @@ def test_node_invoice_amountless(bitcoind, node_factory, clients):
         amount=clnpb.AmountOrAll(amount=clnpb.Amount(msat=10**9))
     )
     bitcoind.generate_block(6, wait_for_mempool=1)
+    
+    # the channels array is optional
+    wait_for(lambda: hasattr(gl1.list_peers().peers[0], "channels"))
     wait_for(lambda: gl1.list_peers().peers[0].channels[0].state == 2)  # CHANNELD_NORMAL
 
     # Generate an invoice without amount:
@@ -201,6 +204,9 @@ def test_node_listpays_preimage(clients, node_factory, bitcoind):
         amount=clnpb.AmountOrAll(amount=clnpb.Amount(msat=10**9))
     )
     bitcoind.generate_block(6, wait_for_mempool=1)
+
+    # the channels array is optional
+    wait_for(lambda: hasattr(gl1.list_peers().peers[0], "channels"))
     wait_for(lambda: gl1.list_peers().peers[0].channels[0].state == 2)  # CHANNELD_NORMAL
 
     preimage = "00"*32