diff --git a/itest/lnd_channel_graph_test.go b/itest/lnd_channel_graph_test.go
index 566d02c9ca..54ddd2ca21 100644
--- a/itest/lnd_channel_graph_test.go
+++ b/itest/lnd_channel_graph_test.go
@@ -42,25 +42,23 @@ import (
 // thus a following operation will fail if it relies on the channel being
 // enabled.
 func testUpdateChanStatus(ht *lntest.HarnessTest) {
-	// Create two fresh nodes and open a channel between them.
-	alice, bob := ht.Alice, ht.Bob
-	args := []string{
+	// Prepare params.
+	chanAmt := btcutil.Amount(100_000)
+	openChannelParams := lntest.OpenChannelParams{
+		Amt: chanAmt,
+	}
+	cfg := []string{
 		"--minbackoff=60s",
 		"--chan-enable-timeout=3s",
 		"--chan-disable-timeout=6s",
 		"--chan-status-sample-interval=0.5s",
 	}
-	ht.RestartNodeWithExtraArgs(alice, args)
-	ht.RestartNodeWithExtraArgs(bob, args)
-	ht.EnsureConnected(alice, bob)
+	cfgs := [][]string{cfg, cfg}
 
-	// Open a channel with 100k satoshis between Alice and Bob with Alice
-	// being the sole funder of the channel.
-	chanAmt := btcutil.Amount(100000)
-	chanPoint := ht.OpenChannel(
-		alice, bob, lntest.OpenChannelParams{Amt: chanAmt},
-	)
-	defer ht.CloseChannel(alice, chanPoint)
+	// Create two fresh nodes and open a channel between them.
+	chanPoints, nodes := ht.CreateSimpleNetwork(cfgs, openChannelParams)
+	chanPoint := chanPoints[0]
+	alice, bob := nodes[0], nodes[1]
 
 	// assertEdgeDisabled ensures that Alice has the correct Disabled state
 	// for given channel from her DescribeGraph.