diff --git a/electrum/gui/qt/channels_list.py b/electrum/gui/qt/channels_list.py
index cd6606aa2..9feb401d4 100644
--- a/electrum/gui/qt/channels_list.py
+++ b/electrum/gui/qt/channels_list.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ from PyQt5.QtWidgets import *
 from electrum.util import inv_dict, bh2u, bfh
 from electrum.i18n import _
 from electrum.lnhtlc import HTLCStateMachine
+from electrum.lnaddr import lndecode
+
 from .util import MyTreeWidget, SortableTreeWidgetItem, WindowModalDialog, Buttons, OkButton, CancelButton
 from .amountedit import BTCAmountEdit
 
@@ -88,7 +90,7 @@ class ChannelsList(MyTreeWidget):
         push_amt_inp.setAmount(0)
         h.addWidget(QLabel(_('Your Node ID')), 0, 0)
         h.addWidget(local_nodeid, 0, 1)
-        h.addWidget(QLabel(_('Remote Node ID or connection string')), 1, 0)
+        h.addWidget(QLabel(_('Remote Node ID or connection string or invoice')), 1, 0)
         h.addWidget(remote_nodeid, 1, 1)
         h.addWidget(QLabel('Local amount'), 2, 0)
         h.addWidget(local_amt_inp, 2, 1)
@@ -104,11 +106,7 @@ class ChannelsList(MyTreeWidget):
         local_amt = local_amt_inp.get_amount()
         push_amt = push_amt_inp.get_amount()
         connect_contents = str(remote_nodeid.text())
-        rest = None
-        try:
-            nodeid_hex, rest = connect_contents.split("@")
-        except ValueError:
-            nodeid_hex = connect_contents
+        nodeid_hex, rest = self.parse_connect_contents(connect_contents)
         try:
             node_id = bfh(nodeid_hex)
             assert len(node_id) == 33
@@ -140,5 +138,22 @@ class ChannelsList(MyTreeWidget):
 
         self.main_window.protect(self.open_channel, (node_id, local_amt, push_amt))
 
+    @classmethod
+    def parse_connect_contents(cls, connect_contents: str):
+        rest = None
+        try:
+            # connection string?
+            nodeid_hex, rest = connect_contents.split("@")
+        except ValueError:
+            try:
+                # invoice?
+                invoice = lndecode(connect_contents)
+                nodeid_bytes = invoice.pubkey.serialize()
+                nodeid_hex = bh2u(nodeid_bytes)
+            except:
+                # node id as hex?
+                nodeid_hex = connect_contents
+        return nodeid_hex, rest
+
     def open_channel(self, *args, **kwargs):
         self.parent.wallet.lnworker.open_channel(*args, **kwargs)