diff --git a/frontend/squeak-node-frontend/src/components/OpenChannelDialog/OpenChannelDialog.js b/frontend/squeak-node-frontend/src/components/OpenChannelDialog/OpenChannelDialog.js
index bfe3406a..06b61b9e 100644
--- a/frontend/squeak-node-frontend/src/components/OpenChannelDialog/OpenChannelDialog.js
+++ b/frontend/squeak-node-frontend/src/components/OpenChannelDialog/OpenChannelDialog.js
@@ -44,10 +44,10 @@ export default function OpenChannelDialog({
   var classes = useStyles();
   const history = useHistory();
 
-  var [amount, setAmount] = useState(0);
+  var [amount, setAmount] = useState("");
 
   const resetFields = () => {
-    setAmount(0);
+    setAmount("");
   };
 
   const handleChangeAmount = (event) => {
diff --git a/squeakserver/node/squeak_node.py b/squeakserver/node/squeak_node.py
index 9b84db0a..df0283c9 100644
--- a/squeakserver/node/squeak_node.py
+++ b/squeakserver/node/squeak_node.py
@@ -274,6 +274,9 @@ class SqueakNode:
         payment = self.lightning_client.pay_invoice_sync(offer.payment_request)
         preimage = payment.payment_preimage
 
+        if not preimage:
+            raise Exception("Payment failed with error: {}".format(payment.payment_error))
+
         # Check if preimage is valid
         preimage_hash = sha256(preimage).hexdigest()
         is_valid_preimage = (preimage_hash == offer.payment_hash)