diff --git a/channels.go b/channels.go
index b598795..6250899 100644
--- a/channels.go
+++ b/channels.go
@@ -68,8 +68,7 @@ func (r *regolancer) getChannelCandidates(fromPerc, toPerc, amount int64) error
 		}
 		if _, ok := r.excludeIn[c.ChanId]; !ok {
 			if _, ok := r.toChannelId[c.ChanId]; ok || len(r.toChannelId) == 0 {
-				if c.LocalBalance < c.Capacity*toPerc/100 && (params.AllowUnbalanceTo ||
-					c.LocalBalance+amount < c.Capacity/2) {
+				if c.LocalBalance < c.Capacity*toPerc/100 {
 					r.toChannels = append(r.toChannels, c)
 				}
 			}
@@ -77,9 +76,7 @@ func (r *regolancer) getChannelCandidates(fromPerc, toPerc, amount int64) error
 		}
 		if _, ok := r.excludeOut[c.ChanId]; !ok {
 			if _, ok := r.fromChannelId[c.ChanId]; ok || len(r.fromChannelId) == 0 {
-				if c.RemoteBalance < c.Capacity*fromPerc/100 &&
-					(params.AllowUnbalanceFrom ||
-						c.RemoteBalance+amount < c.Capacity/2) {
+				if c.RemoteBalance < c.Capacity*fromPerc/100 {
 					r.fromChannels = append(r.fromChannels, c)
 				}
 			}
@@ -136,17 +133,11 @@ func (r *regolancer) pickChannelPair(amount, minAmount int64,
 	}
 	fromChan = pair[0]
 	toChan = pair[1]
-	maxFrom := fromChan.Capacity/2 - fromChan.RemoteBalance
-	if params.AllowUnbalanceFrom {
-		maxFrom = fromChan.LocalBalance
-	}
+	maxFrom := fromChan.LocalBalance
 	if relFromAmount > 0 {
 		maxFrom = min(maxFrom, int64(float64(fromChan.Capacity)*relFromAmount)-fromChan.RemoteBalance)
 	}
-	maxTo := toChan.Capacity/2 - toChan.LocalBalance
-	if params.AllowUnbalanceTo {
-		maxTo = toChan.RemoteBalance
-	}
+	maxTo := toChan.RemoteBalance
 	if relToAmount > 0 {
 		maxTo = min(maxTo, int64(float64(toChan.Capacity)*relToAmount)-toChan.LocalBalance)
 	}
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 2a8a243..19f0971 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -391,6 +391,9 @@ func preflightChecks(params *configParams) error {
 		(params.RelAmountFrom > 0 || params.RelAmountTo > 0) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("use either precise amount or relative amounts but not both")
 	}
+	if params.Amount == 0 && params.RelAmountFrom == 0 && params.RelAmountTo == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("no amount specified, use either --amount, --rel-amount-from, or --rel-amount-to")
+	}
 	if params.FailTolerance == 0 {
 		params.FailTolerance = 1000
 	}
@@ -410,6 +413,10 @@ func preflightChecks(params *configParams) error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	if params.AllowUnbalanceFrom || params.AllowUnbalanceTo {
+		log.Print(infoColor("--allow-unbalance-from/to are deprecated and enabled by default, please remove them from your config or command line parameters"))
+	}
+
 	return nil
 
 }