diff --git a/batch/interface.go b/batch/interface.go
index b9ab8b77fb..e07cbd49c3 100644
--- a/batch/interface.go
+++ b/batch/interface.go
@@ -25,6 +25,23 @@ type Request struct {
 	//
 	// NOTE: This field is optional.
 	OnCommit func(commitErr error) error
+
+	// lazy should be true if we don't have to immediately execute this
+	// request when it comes in. This means that it can be scheduled later,
+	// allowing larger batches.
+	lazy bool
+}
+
+// SchedulerOption is a type that can be used to supply options to a scheduled
+// request.
+type SchedulerOption func(r *Request)
+
+// LazyAdd will make the request be executed lazily, added to the next batch to
+// reduce db contention.
+func LazyAdd() SchedulerOption {
+	return func(r *Request) {
+		r.lazy = true
+	}
 }
 
 // Scheduler abstracts a generic batching engine that accumulates an incoming
@@ -32,7 +49,7 @@ type Request struct {
 type Scheduler interface {
 	// Execute schedules a Request for execution with the next available
 	// batch. This method blocks until the the underlying closure has been
-	// run against the databse. The resulting error is returned to the
+	// run against the database. The resulting error is returned to the
 	// caller.
 	Execute(req *Request) error
 }
diff --git a/batch/scheduler.go b/batch/scheduler.go
index 7d6813763d..941c6f37a5 100644
--- a/batch/scheduler.go
+++ b/batch/scheduler.go
@@ -60,6 +60,12 @@ func (s *TimeScheduler) Execute(r *Request) error {
 		time.AfterFunc(s.duration, s.b.trigger)
 	}
 	s.b.reqs = append(s.b.reqs, &req)
+
+	// If this is a non-lazy request, we'll execute the batch immediately.
+	if !r.lazy {
+		go s.b.trigger()
+	}
+
 	s.mu.Unlock()
 
 	// Wait for the batch to process the request. If the batch didn't
diff --git a/channeldb/graph.go b/channeldb/graph.go
index 2eaf08edf6..f042dcc499 100644
--- a/channeldb/graph.go
+++ b/channeldb/graph.go
@@ -458,12 +458,20 @@ func (c *ChannelGraph) SetSourceNode(node *LightningNode) error {
 // channel update.
 //
 // TODO(roasbeef): also need sig of announcement
-func (c *ChannelGraph) AddLightningNode(node *LightningNode) error {
-	return c.nodeScheduler.Execute(&batch.Request{
+func (c *ChannelGraph) AddLightningNode(node *LightningNode,
+	op ...batch.SchedulerOption) error {
+
+	r := &batch.Request{
 		Update: func(tx kvdb.RwTx) error {
 			return addLightningNode(tx, node)
 		},
-	})
+	}
+
+	for _, f := range op {
+		f(r)
+	}
+
+	return c.nodeScheduler.Execute(r)
 }
 
 func addLightningNode(tx kvdb.RwTx, node *LightningNode) error {
@@ -588,9 +596,11 @@ func (c *ChannelGraph) deleteLightningNode(nodes kvdb.RwBucket,
 // involved in creation of the channel, and the set of features that the channel
 // supports. The chanPoint and chanID are used to uniquely identify the edge
 // globally within the database.
-func (c *ChannelGraph) AddChannelEdge(edge *ChannelEdgeInfo) error {
+func (c *ChannelGraph) AddChannelEdge(edge *ChannelEdgeInfo,
+	op ...batch.SchedulerOption) error {
+
 	var alreadyExists bool
-	return c.chanScheduler.Execute(&batch.Request{
+	r := &batch.Request{
 		Reset: func() {
 			alreadyExists = false
 		},
@@ -618,7 +628,13 @@ func (c *ChannelGraph) AddChannelEdge(edge *ChannelEdgeInfo) error {
 				return nil
 			}
 		},
-	})
+	}
+
+	for _, f := range op {
+		f(r)
+	}
+
+	return c.chanScheduler.Execute(r)
 }
 
 // addChannelEdge is the private form of AddChannelEdge that allows callers to
@@ -1994,12 +2010,15 @@ func delChannelEdge(edges, edgeIndex, chanIndex, zombieIndex,
 // updated, otherwise it's the second node's information. The node ordering is
 // determined by the lexicographical ordering of the identity public keys of the
 // nodes on either side of the channel.
-func (c *ChannelGraph) UpdateEdgePolicy(edge *ChannelEdgePolicy) error {
+func (c *ChannelGraph) UpdateEdgePolicy(edge *ChannelEdgePolicy,
+	op ...batch.SchedulerOption) error {
+
 	var (
 		isUpdate1    bool
 		edgeNotFound bool
 	)
-	return c.chanScheduler.Execute(&batch.Request{
+
+	r := &batch.Request{
 		Reset: func() {
 			isUpdate1 = false
 			edgeNotFound = false
@@ -2028,7 +2047,13 @@ func (c *ChannelGraph) UpdateEdgePolicy(edge *ChannelEdgePolicy) error {
 				return nil
 			}
 		},
-	})
+	}
+
+	for _, f := range op {
+		f(r)
+	}
+
+	return c.chanScheduler.Execute(r)
 }
 
 func (c *ChannelGraph) updateEdgeCache(e *ChannelEdgePolicy, isUpdate1 bool) {
diff --git a/discovery/gossiper.go b/discovery/gossiper.go
index e669f61aa5..8993e34ae7 100644
--- a/discovery/gossiper.go
+++ b/discovery/gossiper.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/btcsuite/btcd/wire"
 	"github.com/btcsuite/btcutil"
 	"github.com/davecgh/go-spew/spew"
+	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/batch"
 	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/chainntnfs"
 	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/channeldb"
 	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/lnpeer"
@@ -1449,7 +1450,9 @@ func (d *AuthenticatedGossiper) processRejectedEdge(
 
 // addNode processes the given node announcement, and adds it to our channel
 // graph.
-func (d *AuthenticatedGossiper) addNode(msg *lnwire.NodeAnnouncement) error {
+func (d *AuthenticatedGossiper) addNode(msg *lnwire.NodeAnnouncement,
+	op ...batch.SchedulerOption) error {
+
 	if err := routing.ValidateNodeAnn(msg); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("unable to validate node announcement: %v",
 			err)
@@ -1469,7 +1472,7 @@ func (d *AuthenticatedGossiper) addNode(msg *lnwire.NodeAnnouncement) error {
 		ExtraOpaqueData:      msg.ExtraOpaqueData,
 	}
 
-	return d.cfg.Router.AddNode(node)
+	return d.cfg.Router.AddNode(node, op...)
 }
 
 // processNetworkAnnouncement processes a new network relate authenticated
@@ -1486,6 +1489,13 @@ func (d *AuthenticatedGossiper) processNetworkAnnouncement(
 		return chanID.BlockHeight+delta > d.bestHeight
 	}
 
+	// If this is a remote update, we set the scheduler option to lazily
+	// add it to the graph.
+	var schedulerOp []batch.SchedulerOption
+	if nMsg.isRemote {
+		schedulerOp = append(schedulerOp, batch.LazyAdd())
+	}
+
 	var announcements []networkMsg
 
 	switch msg := nMsg.msg.(type) {
@@ -1504,7 +1514,7 @@ func (d *AuthenticatedGossiper) processNetworkAnnouncement(
 			return nil
 		}
 
-		if err := d.addNode(msg); err != nil {
+		if err := d.addNode(msg, schedulerOp...); err != nil {
 			if routing.IsError(err, routing.ErrOutdated,
 				routing.ErrIgnored) {
 
@@ -1662,7 +1672,7 @@ func (d *AuthenticatedGossiper) processNetworkAnnouncement(
 		// writes to the DB.
 		d.channelMtx.Lock(msg.ShortChannelID.ToUint64())
 		defer d.channelMtx.Unlock(msg.ShortChannelID.ToUint64())
-		if err := d.cfg.Router.AddEdge(edge); err != nil {
+		if err := d.cfg.Router.AddEdge(edge, schedulerOp...); err != nil {
 			// If the edge was rejected due to already being known,
 			// then it may be that case that this new message has a
 			// fresh channel proof, so we'll check.
@@ -2002,7 +2012,7 @@ func (d *AuthenticatedGossiper) processNetworkAnnouncement(
 			ExtraOpaqueData:           msg.ExtraOpaqueData,
 		}
 
-		if err := d.cfg.Router.UpdateEdge(update); err != nil {
+		if err := d.cfg.Router.UpdateEdge(update, schedulerOp...); err != nil {
 			if routing.IsError(err, routing.ErrOutdated,
 				routing.ErrIgnored) {
 				log.Debug(err)
diff --git a/discovery/gossiper_test.go b/discovery/gossiper_test.go
index 1c1e60cab9..8c1136e4c1 100644
--- a/discovery/gossiper_test.go
+++ b/discovery/gossiper_test.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/btcsuite/btcutil"
 	"github.com/davecgh/go-spew/spew"
 	"github.com/go-errors/errors"
+	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/batch"
 	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/chainntnfs"
 	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/channeldb"
 	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/lnpeer"
@@ -115,7 +116,9 @@ func newMockRouter(height uint32) *mockGraphSource {
 
 var _ routing.ChannelGraphSource = (*mockGraphSource)(nil)
 
-func (r *mockGraphSource) AddNode(node *channeldb.LightningNode) error {
+func (r *mockGraphSource) AddNode(node *channeldb.LightningNode,
+	_ ...batch.SchedulerOption) error {
+
 	r.mu.Lock()
 	defer r.mu.Unlock()
 
@@ -123,7 +126,9 @@ func (r *mockGraphSource) AddNode(node *channeldb.LightningNode) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (r *mockGraphSource) AddEdge(info *channeldb.ChannelEdgeInfo) error {
+func (r *mockGraphSource) AddEdge(info *channeldb.ChannelEdgeInfo,
+	_ ...batch.SchedulerOption) error {
+
 	r.mu.Lock()
 	defer r.mu.Unlock()
 
@@ -135,7 +140,9 @@ func (r *mockGraphSource) AddEdge(info *channeldb.ChannelEdgeInfo) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (r *mockGraphSource) UpdateEdge(edge *channeldb.ChannelEdgePolicy) error {
+func (r *mockGraphSource) UpdateEdge(edge *channeldb.ChannelEdgePolicy,
+	_ ...batch.SchedulerOption) error {
+
 	r.mu.Lock()
 	defer r.mu.Unlock()
 
diff --git a/routing/router.go b/routing/router.go
index 5d70f4b8e9..4c1aa2214b 100644
--- a/routing/router.go
+++ b/routing/router.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-errors/errors"
 
 	sphinx "github.com/lightningnetwork/lightning-onion"
+	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/batch"
 	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/channeldb"
 	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/channeldb/kvdb"
 	"github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/clock"
@@ -82,12 +83,12 @@ type ChannelGraphSource interface {
 	// AddNode is used to add information about a node to the router
 	// database. If the node with this pubkey is not present in an existing
 	// channel, it will be ignored.
-	AddNode(node *channeldb.LightningNode) error
+	AddNode(node *channeldb.LightningNode, op ...batch.SchedulerOption) error
 
 	// AddEdge is used to add edge/channel to the topology of the router,
 	// after all information about channel will be gathered this
 	// edge/channel might be used in construction of payment path.
-	AddEdge(edge *channeldb.ChannelEdgeInfo) error
+	AddEdge(edge *channeldb.ChannelEdgeInfo, op ...batch.SchedulerOption) error
 
 	// AddProof updates the channel edge info with proof which is needed to
 	// properly announce the edge to the rest of the network.
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ type ChannelGraphSource interface {
 
 	// UpdateEdge is used to update edge information, without this message
 	// edge considered as not fully constructed.
-	UpdateEdge(policy *channeldb.ChannelEdgePolicy) error
+	UpdateEdge(policy *channeldb.ChannelEdgePolicy, op ...batch.SchedulerOption) error
 
 	// IsStaleNode returns true if the graph source has a node announcement
 	// for the target node with a more recent timestamp. This method will
@@ -957,7 +958,7 @@ func (r *ChannelRouter) networkHandler() {
 				// this is either a new update from our PoV or
 				// an update to a prior vertex/edge we
 				// previously accepted.
-				err = r.processUpdate(update.msg)
+				err = r.processUpdate(update.msg, update.op...)
 				update.err <- err
 
 				// If this message had any dependencies, then
@@ -1176,7 +1177,9 @@ func (r *ChannelRouter) assertNodeAnnFreshness(node route.Vertex,
 // channel/edge update network update. If the update didn't affect the internal
 // state of the draft due to either being out of date, invalid, or redundant,
 // then error is returned.
-func (r *ChannelRouter) processUpdate(msg interface{}) error {
+func (r *ChannelRouter) processUpdate(msg interface{},
+	op ...batch.SchedulerOption) error {
+
 	switch msg := msg.(type) {
 	case *channeldb.LightningNode:
 		// Before we add the node to the database, we'll check to see
@@ -1187,7 +1190,7 @@ func (r *ChannelRouter) processUpdate(msg interface{}) error {
 			return err
 		}
 
-		if err := r.cfg.Graph.AddLightningNode(msg); err != nil {
+		if err := r.cfg.Graph.AddLightningNode(msg, op...); err != nil {
 			return errors.Errorf("unable to add node %v to the "+
 				"graph: %v", msg.PubKeyBytes, err)
 		}
@@ -1219,7 +1222,7 @@ func (r *ChannelRouter) processUpdate(msg interface{}) error {
 		// short-circuit our path straight to adding the edge to our
 		// graph.
 		if r.cfg.AssumeChannelValid {
-			if err := r.cfg.Graph.AddChannelEdge(msg); err != nil {
+			if err := r.cfg.Graph.AddChannelEdge(msg, op...); err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("unable to add edge: %v", err)
 			}
 			log.Tracef("New channel discovered! Link "+
@@ -1291,7 +1294,7 @@ func (r *ChannelRouter) processUpdate(msg interface{}) error {
 		// after commitment fees are dynamic.
 		msg.Capacity = btcutil.Amount(chanUtxo.Value)
 		msg.ChannelPoint = *fundingPoint
-		if err := r.cfg.Graph.AddChannelEdge(msg); err != nil {
+		if err := r.cfg.Graph.AddChannelEdge(msg, op...); err != nil {
 			return errors.Errorf("unable to add edge: %v", err)
 		}
 
@@ -1390,7 +1393,7 @@ func (r *ChannelRouter) processUpdate(msg interface{}) error {
 		// Now that we know this isn't a stale update, we'll apply the
 		// new edge policy to the proper directional edge within the
 		// channel graph.
-		if err = r.cfg.Graph.UpdateEdgePolicy(msg); err != nil {
+		if err = r.cfg.Graph.UpdateEdgePolicy(msg, op...); err != nil {
 			err := errors.Errorf("unable to add channel: %v", err)
 			log.Error(err)
 			return err
@@ -1444,6 +1447,7 @@ func (r *ChannelRouter) fetchFundingTx(
 // error channel.
 type routingMsg struct {
 	msg interface{}
+	op  []batch.SchedulerOption
 	err chan error
 }
 
@@ -2140,9 +2144,12 @@ func (r *ChannelRouter) applyChannelUpdate(msg *lnwire.ChannelUpdate,
 // be ignored.
 //
 // NOTE: This method is part of the ChannelGraphSource interface.
-func (r *ChannelRouter) AddNode(node *channeldb.LightningNode) error {
+func (r *ChannelRouter) AddNode(node *channeldb.LightningNode,
+	op ...batch.SchedulerOption) error {
+
 	rMsg := &routingMsg{
 		msg: node,
+		op:  op,
 		err: make(chan error, 1),
 	}
 
@@ -2164,9 +2171,12 @@ func (r *ChannelRouter) AddNode(node *channeldb.LightningNode) error {
 // in construction of payment path.
 //
 // NOTE: This method is part of the ChannelGraphSource interface.
-func (r *ChannelRouter) AddEdge(edge *channeldb.ChannelEdgeInfo) error {
+func (r *ChannelRouter) AddEdge(edge *channeldb.ChannelEdgeInfo,
+	op ...batch.SchedulerOption) error {
+
 	rMsg := &routingMsg{
 		msg: edge,
+		op:  op,
 		err: make(chan error, 1),
 	}
 
@@ -2187,9 +2197,12 @@ func (r *ChannelRouter) AddEdge(edge *channeldb.ChannelEdgeInfo) error {
 // considered as not fully constructed.
 //
 // NOTE: This method is part of the ChannelGraphSource interface.
-func (r *ChannelRouter) UpdateEdge(update *channeldb.ChannelEdgePolicy) error {
+func (r *ChannelRouter) UpdateEdge(update *channeldb.ChannelEdgePolicy,
+	op ...batch.SchedulerOption) error {
+
 	rMsg := &routingMsg{
 		msg: update,
+		op:  op,
 		err: make(chan error, 1),
 	}