multi: make sure previous inconsitent states are fixed

diff --git a/channeldb/db.go b/channeldb/db.go
index 6064975..91f1886 100644
--- a/channeldb/db.go
+++ b/channeldb/db.go
@@ -1516,6 +1516,93 @@ func (c *ChannelStateDB) PruneLinkNodes() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// RepairLinkNodes scans all channels in the database and ensures that a
+// link node exists for each remote peer. This should be called on startup to
+// ensure that our database is consistent.
+//
+// NOTE: This function is designed to repair database inconsistencies that may
+// have occurred due to the race condition in link node pruning (where link
+// nodes could be incorrectly deleted while channels still existed). This can
+// be removed once we move to native sql.
+func (c *ChannelStateDB) RepairLinkNodes(network wire.BitcoinNet) error {
+	// In a single read transaction, build a list of all peers with open
+	// channels and check which ones are missing link nodes.
+	var missingPeers []*btcec.PublicKey
+
+	err := kvdb.View(c.backend, func(tx kvdb.RTx) error {
+		openChanBucket := tx.ReadBucket(openChannelBucket)
+		if openChanBucket == nil {
+			return ErrNoActiveChannels
+		}
+
+		var peersWithChannels []*btcec.PublicKey
+
+		err := openChanBucket.ForEach(func(nodePubBytes,
+			_ []byte) error {
+
+			nodePub, err := btcec.ParsePubKey(nodePubBytes)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			channels, err := c.fetchOpenChannels(tx, nodePub)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			if len(channels) > 0 {
+				peersWithChannels = append(
+					peersWithChannels, nodePub,
+				)
+			}
+
+			return nil
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		// Now check which peers are missing link nodes within the
+		// same transaction.
+		missingPeers, err = c.linkNodeDB.FindMissingLinkNodes(
+			tx, peersWithChannels,
+		)
+
+		return err
+	}, func() {
+		missingPeers = nil
+	})
+	if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, ErrNoActiveChannels) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("unable to fetch channels: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Early exit if no repairs needed.
+	if len(missingPeers) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Create all missing link nodes in a single write transaction
+	// using the LinkNodeDB abstraction.
+	linkNodesToCreate := make([]*LinkNode, 0, len(missingPeers))
+	for _, remotePub := range missingPeers {
+		linkNode := NewLinkNode(c.linkNodeDB, network, remotePub)
+		linkNodesToCreate = append(linkNodesToCreate, linkNode)
+
+		log.Infof("Repairing missing link node for peer %x",
+			remotePub.SerializeCompressed())
+	}
+
+	err = c.linkNodeDB.CreateLinkNodes(nil, linkNodesToCreate)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	log.Infof("Repaired %d missing link nodes on startup",
+		len(missingPeers))
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 // ChannelShell is a shell of a channel that is meant to be used for channel
 // recovery purposes. It contains a minimal OpenChannel instance along with
 // addresses for that target node.
diff --git a/channeldb/nodes.go b/channeldb/nodes.go
index b17d5c3..70f6fad 100644
--- a/channeldb/nodes.go
+++ b/channeldb/nodes.go
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ package channeldb
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net"
 	"time"
@@ -134,6 +136,95 @@ type LinkNodeDB struct {
 	backend kvdb.Backend
 }
 
+// FindMissingLinkNodes checks which of the provided public keys do not have
+// corresponding link nodes in the database. If tx is nil, a new read
+// transaction will be created. Otherwise, the provided transaction is used,
+// allowing this to be part of a larger batch operation.
+func (l *LinkNodeDB) FindMissingLinkNodes(tx kvdb.RTx,
+	pubKeys []*btcec.PublicKey) ([]*btcec.PublicKey, error) {
+
+	var missing []*btcec.PublicKey
+
+	findMissing := func(readTx kvdb.RTx) error {
+		nodeMetaBucket := readTx.ReadBucket(nodeInfoBucket)
+		if nodeMetaBucket == nil {
+			// If the bucket doesn't exist, all peers are missing.
+			missing = pubKeys
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		for _, pubKey := range pubKeys {
+			_, err := fetchLinkNode(readTx, pubKey)
+			if err == nil {
+				// Link node exists.
+				continue
+			}
+
+			if !errors.Is(err, ErrNodeNotFound) {
+				return fmt.Errorf("unable to check link node "+
+					"for peer %x: %w",
+					pubKey.SerializeCompressed(), err)
+			}
+
+			// Link node doesn't exist.
+			missing = append(missing, pubKey)
+		}
+
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// If no transaction provided, create our own.
+	if tx == nil {
+		err := kvdb.View(l.backend, findMissing, func() {
+			missing = nil
+		})
+
+		return missing, err
+	}
+
+	// Use the provided transaction.
+	err := findMissing(tx)
+
+	return missing, err
+}
+
+// CreateLinkNodes creates multiple link nodes. If tx is nil, a new write
+// transaction will be created. Otherwise, the provided transaction is used,
+// allowing this to be part of a larger batch operation.
+func (l *LinkNodeDB) CreateLinkNodes(tx kvdb.RwTx,
+	linkNodes []*LinkNode) error {
+
+	createNodes := func(writeTx kvdb.RwTx) error {
+		nodeMetaBucket, err := writeTx.CreateTopLevelBucket(
+			nodeInfoBucket,
+		)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		for _, linkNode := range linkNodes {
+			err := putLinkNode(nodeMetaBucket, linkNode)
+			if err != nil {
+				pubKey := linkNode.IdentityPub.
+					SerializeCompressed()
+
+				return fmt.Errorf("unable to create link "+
+					"node for peer %x: %w", pubKey, err)
+			}
+		}
+
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// If no transaction provided, create our own.
+	if tx == nil {
+		return kvdb.Update(l.backend, createNodes, func() {})
+	}
+
+	// Use the provided transaction.
+	return createNodes(tx)
+}
+
 // DeleteLinkNode removes the link node with the given identity from the
 // database.
 func (l *LinkNodeDB) DeleteLinkNode(identity *btcec.PublicKey) error {
diff --git a/channeldb/nodes_test.go b/channeldb/nodes_test.go
index b54cf00..a88e452 100644
--- a/channeldb/nodes_test.go
+++ b/channeldb/nodes_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/btcsuite/btcd/btcec/v2"
 	"github.com/btcsuite/btcd/wire"
+	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/kvdb"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
@@ -129,3 +130,245 @@ func TestDeleteLinkNode(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("should not have found link node in db, but did")
 	}
 }
+
+// TestRepairLinkNodes tests that the RepairLinkNodes function correctly
+// identifies and repairs missing link nodes for channels that exist in the
+// database.
+func TestRepairLinkNodes(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	fullDB, err := MakeTestDB(t)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "unable to make test database")
+
+	cdb := fullDB.ChannelStateDB()
+
+	// Create a test channel and save it to the database.
+	channel1 := createTestChannel(t, cdb)
+
+	// Manually create a link node for the channel.
+	linkNode1 := NewLinkNode(
+		cdb.linkNodeDB, wire.MainNet, channel1.IdentityPub,
+	)
+	err = linkNode1.Sync()
+	require.NoError(t, err, "unable to sync link node")
+
+	// Verify that link node was created.
+	fetchedLinkNode, err := cdb.linkNodeDB.FetchLinkNode(
+		channel1.IdentityPub,
+	)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "link node should exist")
+	require.NotNil(t, fetchedLinkNode, "link node should not be nil")
+
+	// Now, manually delete one of the link nodes to simulate the race
+	// condition scenario where a link node was incorrectly pruned.
+	err = cdb.linkNodeDB.DeleteLinkNode(channel1.IdentityPub)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "unable to delete link node")
+
+	// Verify the link node is gone.
+	_, err = cdb.linkNodeDB.FetchLinkNode(channel1.IdentityPub)
+	require.ErrorIs(
+		t, err, ErrNodeNotFound,
+		"link node should be deleted",
+	)
+
+	// Now run the repair function with the correct network.
+	err = cdb.RepairLinkNodes(wire.MainNet)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "repair should succeed")
+
+	// Verify that the link node has been restored.
+	repairedLinkNode, err := cdb.linkNodeDB.FetchLinkNode(
+		channel1.IdentityPub,
+	)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "repaired link node should exist")
+	require.NotNil(
+		t, repairedLinkNode, "repaired link node should not be nil",
+	)
+	require.Equal(
+		t, wire.MainNet, repairedLinkNode.Network,
+		"repaired link node should have correct network",
+	)
+
+	// Run repair again - it should be idempotent and not fail.
+	err = cdb.RepairLinkNodes(wire.MainNet)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "second repair should succeed")
+
+	// Test with different network to ensure network parameter is used.
+	err = cdb.linkNodeDB.DeleteLinkNode(channel1.IdentityPub)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "unable to delete link node")
+
+	err = cdb.RepairLinkNodes(wire.TestNet3)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "repair with testnet should succeed")
+
+	repairedLinkNode, err = cdb.linkNodeDB.FetchLinkNode(
+		channel1.IdentityPub,
+	)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "repaired link node should exist")
+	require.Equal(
+		t, wire.TestNet3, repairedLinkNode.Network,
+		"repaired link node should use provided network",
+	)
+}
+
+// TestFindMissingLinkNodes tests the FindMissingLinkNodes method with various
+// scenarios.
+func TestFindMissingLinkNodes(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	fullDB, err := MakeTestDB(t)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "unable to make test database")
+
+	cdb := fullDB.ChannelStateDB()
+
+	// Create three test public keys.
+	_, pub1 := btcec.PrivKeyFromBytes(key[:])
+	_, pub2 := btcec.PrivKeyFromBytes(rev[:])
+	testKey := [32]byte{0x03}
+	_, pub3 := btcec.PrivKeyFromBytes(testKey[:])
+
+	// Test 1: All nodes missing (empty database).
+	allPubs := []*btcec.PublicKey{pub1, pub2, pub3}
+	missing, err := cdb.linkNodeDB.FindMissingLinkNodes(nil, allPubs)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "FindMissingLinkNodes should succeed")
+	require.Len(t, missing, 3, "all nodes should be missing")
+
+	// Test 2: Create one link node, verify only 2 are missing.
+	node1 := NewLinkNode(cdb.linkNodeDB, wire.MainNet, pub1)
+	err = node1.Sync()
+	require.NoError(t, err, "unable to sync link node")
+
+	missing, err = cdb.linkNodeDB.FindMissingLinkNodes(nil, allPubs)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "FindMissingLinkNodes should succeed")
+	require.Len(t, missing, 2, "two nodes should be missing")
+	require.Contains(t, missing, pub2, "pub2 should be missing")
+	require.Contains(t, missing, pub3, "pub3 should be missing")
+	require.NotContains(t, missing, pub1, "pub1 should exist")
+
+	// Test 3: Create remaining nodes, verify none are missing.
+	node2 := NewLinkNode(cdb.linkNodeDB, wire.MainNet, pub2)
+	err = node2.Sync()
+	require.NoError(t, err, "unable to sync link node")
+
+	node3 := NewLinkNode(cdb.linkNodeDB, wire.MainNet, pub3)
+	err = node3.Sync()
+	require.NoError(t, err, "unable to sync link node")
+
+	missing, err = cdb.linkNodeDB.FindMissingLinkNodes(nil, allPubs)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "FindMissingLinkNodes should succeed")
+	require.Len(t, missing, 0, "no nodes should be missing")
+
+	// Test 4: Use with a provided transaction.
+	err = cdb.linkNodeDB.DeleteLinkNode(pub2)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "unable to delete link node")
+
+	backend := fullDB.ChannelStateDB().backend
+	err = kvdb.View(backend, func(tx kvdb.RTx) error {
+		missing, err := cdb.linkNodeDB.FindMissingLinkNodes(
+			tx, allPubs,
+		)
+		require.NoError(t, err, "FindMissingLinkNodes should succeed")
+		require.Len(t, missing, 1, "one node should be missing")
+		require.Contains(t, missing, pub2, "pub2 should be missing")
+
+		return nil
+	}, func() {})
+	require.NoError(t, err, "transaction should succeed")
+
+	// Test 5: Empty input list.
+	missing, err = cdb.linkNodeDB.FindMissingLinkNodes(nil, nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "FindMissingLinkNodes should succeed")
+	require.Len(t, missing, 0, "no nodes should be missing for empty input")
+}
+
+// TestCreateLinkNodes tests the CreateLinkNodes method with various scenarios.
+func TestCreateLinkNodes(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	fullDB, err := MakeTestDB(t)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "unable to make test database")
+
+	cdb := fullDB.ChannelStateDB()
+
+	// Create three test public keys and link nodes.
+	_, pub1 := btcec.PrivKeyFromBytes(key[:])
+	_, pub2 := btcec.PrivKeyFromBytes(rev[:])
+	testKey := [32]byte{0x03}
+	_, pub3 := btcec.PrivKeyFromBytes(testKey[:])
+
+	node1 := NewLinkNode(cdb.linkNodeDB, wire.MainNet, pub1)
+	node2 := NewLinkNode(cdb.linkNodeDB, wire.TestNet3, pub2)
+	node3 := NewLinkNode(cdb.linkNodeDB, wire.SimNet, pub3)
+
+	// Test 1: Create multiple link nodes at once with nil transaction.
+	nodesToCreate := []*LinkNode{node1, node2, node3}
+	err = cdb.linkNodeDB.CreateLinkNodes(nil, nodesToCreate)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "CreateLinkNodes should succeed")
+
+	// Verify all nodes were created correctly.
+	fetchedNode1, err := cdb.linkNodeDB.FetchLinkNode(pub1)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "node1 should exist")
+	require.Equal(t, wire.MainNet, fetchedNode1.Network,
+		"node1 should have correct network")
+
+	fetchedNode2, err := cdb.linkNodeDB.FetchLinkNode(pub2)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "node2 should exist")
+	require.Equal(t, wire.TestNet3, fetchedNode2.Network,
+		"node2 should have correct network")
+
+	fetchedNode3, err := cdb.linkNodeDB.FetchLinkNode(pub3)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "node3 should exist")
+	require.Equal(t, wire.SimNet, fetchedNode3.Network,
+		"node3 should have correct network")
+
+	// Test 2: Create nodes within a provided transaction.
+	err = cdb.linkNodeDB.DeleteLinkNode(pub2)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "unable to delete link node")
+
+	// Verify node2 is deleted.
+	_, err = cdb.linkNodeDB.FetchLinkNode(pub2)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrNodeNotFound, "node2 should be deleted")
+
+	// Recreate node2 using a provided transaction.
+	backend := fullDB.ChannelStateDB().backend
+	err = kvdb.Update(backend, func(tx kvdb.RwTx) error {
+		return cdb.linkNodeDB.CreateLinkNodes(tx, []*LinkNode{node2})
+	}, func() {})
+	require.NoError(t, err, "transaction should succeed")
+
+	// Verify node2 was recreated.
+	fetchedNode2, err = cdb.linkNodeDB.FetchLinkNode(pub2)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "node2 should exist after recreation")
+	require.Equal(t, wire.TestNet3, fetchedNode2.Network,
+		"node2 should have correct network")
+
+	// Test 3: Creating nodes that already exist should succeed
+	// (idempotent behavior).
+	err = cdb.linkNodeDB.CreateLinkNodes(nil, nodesToCreate)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "recreating existing nodes should succeed")
+
+	// Verify nodes still exist with correct data.
+	fetchedNode1, err = cdb.linkNodeDB.FetchLinkNode(pub1)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "node1 should still exist")
+	require.Equal(t, wire.MainNet, fetchedNode1.Network,
+		"node1 should still have correct network")
+
+	// Test 4: Empty input list.
+	err = cdb.linkNodeDB.CreateLinkNodes(nil, nil)
+	require.NoError(
+		t, err, "CreateLinkNodes with empty list should succeed",
+	)
+
+	// Test 5: Create single node.
+	testKey4 := [32]byte{0x04}
+	_, pub4 := btcec.PrivKeyFromBytes(testKey4[:])
+	node4 := NewLinkNode(cdb.linkNodeDB, wire.MainNet, pub4)
+
+	err = cdb.linkNodeDB.CreateLinkNodes(nil, []*LinkNode{node4})
+	require.NoError(
+		t, err, "CreateLinkNodes with single node should succeed",
+	)
+
+	fetchedNode4, err := cdb.linkNodeDB.FetchLinkNode(pub4)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "node4 should exist")
+	require.Equal(t, wire.MainNet, fetchedNode4.Network,
+		"node4 should have correct network")
+}
diff --git a/server.go b/server.go
index c3b724e..f7b4351 100644
--- a/server.go
+++ b/server.go
@@ -2144,6 +2144,21 @@ func (s *server) Start(ctx context.Context) error {
 	cleanup := cleaner{}
 
 	s.start.Do(func() {
+		// Before starting any subsystems, repair any link nodes that
+		// may have been incorrectly pruned due to the race condition
+		// that was fixed in the link node pruning logic. This must
+		// happen before the chain arbitrator and other subsystems load
+		// channels, to ensure the invariant "link node exists iff
+		// channels exist" is maintained.
+		err := s.chanStateDB.RepairLinkNodes(s.cfg.ActiveNetParams.Net)
+		if err != nil {
+			srvrLog.Errorf("Failed to repair link nodes: %v", err)
+
+			startErr = err
+
+			return
+		}
+
 		cleanup = cleanup.add(s.customMessageServer.Stop)
 		if err := s.customMessageServer.Start(); err != nil {
 			startErr = err
@@ -2473,9 +2488,8 @@ func (s *server) Start(ctx context.Context) error {
 		// With all the relevant sub-systems started, we'll now attempt
 		// to establish persistent connections to our direct channel
 		// collaborators within the network. Before doing so however,
-		// we'll prune our set of link nodes found within the database
-		// to ensure we don't reconnect to any nodes we no longer have
-		// open channels with.
+		// we'll prune our set of link nodes to ensure we don't
+		// reconnect to any nodes we no longer have open channels with.
 		if err := s.chanStateDB.PruneLinkNodes(); err != nil {
 			srvrLog.Errorf("Failed to prune link nodes: %v", err)