diff --git a/htlcswitch/link.go b/htlcswitch/link.go
index 5886baaa0..feb0a7a8b 100644
--- a/htlcswitch/link.go
+++ b/htlcswitch/link.go
@@ -1036,8 +1036,8 @@ func (l *channelLink) htlcManager() {
 				// storing the transaction in the db.
 				l.fail(
 					LinkFailureError{
-						code:       ErrSyncError,
-						ForceClose: true,
+						code:          ErrSyncError,
+						FailureAction: LinkFailureForceClose, // nolint:lll
 					},
 					"unable to synchronize channel "+
 						"states: %v", err,
@@ -1077,8 +1077,8 @@ func (l *channelLink) htlcManager() {
 
 			l.fail(
 				LinkFailureError{
-					code:       ErrRecoveryError,
-					ForceClose: false,
+					code:          ErrRecoveryError,
+					FailureAction: LinkFailureForceNone,
 				},
 				"unable to synchronize channel "+
 					"states: %v", err,
@@ -1782,8 +1782,8 @@ func (l *channelLink) handleUpstreamMsg(msg lnwire.Message) {
 		if err := l.channel.ReceiveHTLCSettle(pre, idx); err != nil {
 			l.fail(
 				LinkFailureError{
-					code:       ErrInvalidUpdate,
-					ForceClose: true,
+					code:          ErrInvalidUpdate,
+					FailureAction: LinkFailureForceClose,
 				},
 				"unable to handle upstream settle HTLC: %v", err,
 			)
@@ -1947,9 +1947,9 @@ func (l *channelLink) handleUpstreamMsg(msg lnwire.Message) {
 			}
 			l.fail(
 				LinkFailureError{
-					code:       ErrInvalidCommitment,
-					ForceClose: true,
-					SendData:   sendData,
+					code:          ErrInvalidCommitment,
+					FailureAction: LinkFailureForceClose,
+					SendData:      sendData,
 				},
 				"ChannelPoint(%v): unable to accept new "+
 					"commitment: %v",
diff --git a/htlcswitch/link_test.go b/htlcswitch/link_test.go
index 72afa2ebb..c461ab33e 100644
--- a/htlcswitch/link_test.go
+++ b/htlcswitch/link_test.go
@@ -5457,8 +5457,9 @@ func TestChannelLinkFail(t *testing.T) {
 		// If we expect the link to force close the channel in this
 		// case, check that it happens. If not, make sure it does not
 		// happen.
-		require.Equal(
-			t, test.shouldForceClose, linkErr.ForceClose, test.name,
+		isForceCloseErr := (linkErr.FailureAction == LinkFailureForceClose)
+		require.True(
+			t, test.shouldForceClose == isForceCloseErr, test.name,
 		)
 		require.Equal(
 			t, test.permanentFailure, linkErr.PermanentFailure,
@@ -6523,7 +6524,7 @@ func TestPipelineSettle(t *testing.T) {
 	// ForceClose should be false.
 	select {
 	case linkErr := <-linkErrors:
-		require.False(t, linkErr.ForceClose)
+		require.False(t, linkErr.FailureAction == LinkFailureForceClose)
 	case <-forwardChan:
 		t.Fatal("packet was erroneously forwarded")
 	}
@@ -6559,7 +6560,7 @@ func TestPipelineSettle(t *testing.T) {
 	// ForceClose should be false.
 	select {
 	case linkErr := <-linkErrors:
-		require.False(t, linkErr.ForceClose)
+		require.False(t, linkErr.FailureAction == LinkFailureForceClose)
 	case <-forwardChan:
 		t.Fatal("packet was erroneously forwarded")
 	}
diff --git a/htlcswitch/linkfailure.go b/htlcswitch/linkfailure.go
index 1f454a7bb..58da01189 100644
--- a/htlcswitch/linkfailure.go
+++ b/htlcswitch/linkfailure.go
@@ -53,6 +53,19 @@ const (
 	ErrCircuitError
 )
 
+// LinkFailureAction is an enum-like type that describes the action that should
+// be taken in response to a link failure.
+type LinkFailureAction uint8
+
+const (
+	// LinkFailureForceNone indicates no action is to be taken.
+	LinkFailureForceNone LinkFailureAction = iota
+
+	// LinkFailureForceClose indicates that the channel should be force
+	// closed.
+	LinkFailureForceClose
+)
+
 // LinkFailureError encapsulates an error that will make us fail the current
 // link. It contains the necessary information needed to determine if we should
 // force close the channel in the process, and if any error data should be sent
@@ -61,9 +74,8 @@ type LinkFailureError struct {
 	// code is the type of error this LinkFailureError encapsulates.
 	code errorCode
 
-	// ForceClose indicates whether we should force close the channel
-	// because of this error.
-	ForceClose bool
+	// FailureAction describes what we should do to fail the channel.
+	FailureAction LinkFailureAction
 
 	// PermanentFailure indicates whether this failure is permanent, and
 	// the channel should not be attempted loaded again.
diff --git a/peer/brontide.go b/peer/brontide.go
index 08cad15de..964054a6e 100644
--- a/peer/brontide.go
+++ b/peer/brontide.go
@@ -3094,11 +3094,10 @@ func (p *Brontide) handleLinkFailure(failure linkFailureReport) {
 	// being applied.
 	p.WipeChannel(&failure.chanPoint)
 
-	// If the error encountered was severe enough, we'll now force close the
-	// channel to prevent reading it to the switch in the future.
-	if failure.linkErr.ForceClose {
-		p.log.Warnf("Force closing link(%v)",
-			failure.shortChanID)
+	// If the error encountered was severe enough, we'll now force close
+	// the channel to prevent reading it to the switch in the future.
+	if failure.linkErr.FailureAction == htlcswitch.LinkFailureForceClose {
+		p.log.Warnf("Force closing link(%v)", failure.shortChanID)
 
 		closeTx, err := p.cfg.ChainArb.ForceCloseContract(
 			failure.chanPoint,