diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 3aa50f827a..38b5010900 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,10 +2,19 @@
 
 ## Unreleased
 
+### BUG FIXES
+
+- [ibc-relayer-cli]
+  - Prevent sending `ft-transfer` MsgTransfer on a non-Open channel. ([#960])
+
 ### FEATURES
 
 - [release]
-  - Official hermes image on Docker Hub.
+  - Official hermes image on Docker Hub. ([#894])
+
+
+[#960]: https://github.com/informalsystems/ibc-rs/issues/960
+[#894]: https://github.com/informalsystems/ibc-rs/pull/894
 
 ## v0.3.1
 *May 14h, 2021*
diff --git a/e2e/run.py b/e2e/run.py
index 8ab0bd19b0..f5b84f96ac 100755
--- a/e2e/run.py
+++ b/e2e/run.py
@@ -102,25 +102,25 @@ def loop(c: Config):
     unreceived = packet.query_unreceived_packets(
         c, chain=IBC_1, port=TRANSFER, channel=IBC_1_CHANNEL)
 
-    assert (len(unreceived) == 0), (unreceived, "unreceived packet mismatch")
+    assert (len(unreceived) == 0), (unreceived, "unreceived packets mismatch (expected 0)")
 
     # hermes query packet unreceived-acks ibc-1 transfer channel-1
     unreceived = packet.query_unreceived_acks(
         c, chain=IBC_1, port=TRANSFER, channel=IBC_1_CHANNEL)
 
-    assert (len(unreceived) == 0), (unreceived, "unreceived packet mismatch")
+    assert (len(unreceived) == 0), (unreceived, "unreceived acks mismatch (expected 0)")
 
     # hermes query packet unreceived-packets ibc-0 transfer channel-0
     unreceived = packet.query_unreceived_packets(
         c, chain=IBC_0, port=TRANSFER, channel=IBC_0_CHANNEL)
 
-    assert (len(unreceived) == 0), (unreceived, "unreceived packet mismatch")
+    assert (len(unreceived) == 0), (unreceived, "unreceived packets mismatch (expected 0)")
 
     # hermes query packet unreceived-acks ibc-0 transfer channel-0
     unreceived = packet.query_unreceived_acks(
         c, chain=IBC_0, port=TRANSFER, channel=IBC_0_CHANNEL)
 
-    assert (len(unreceived) == 0), (unreceived, "unreceived packet mismatch")
+    assert (len(unreceived) == 0), (unreceived, "unreceived acks mismatch (expected 0)")
 
     # 6. All good, stop the relayer
     proc.kill()
diff --git a/relayer-cli/src/commands/tx/transfer.rs b/relayer-cli/src/commands/tx/transfer.rs
index cd07c91842..6a3527bf87 100644
--- a/relayer-cli/src/commands/tx/transfer.rs
+++ b/relayer-cli/src/commands/tx/transfer.rs
@@ -142,6 +142,16 @@ impl Runnable for TxIcs20MsgTransferCmd {
                 Height::zero(),
             )
             .unwrap_or_else(exit_with_unrecoverable_error);
+        if !channel_end.is_open() {
+            return Output::error(format!(
+                "the requested port/channel ('{}'/'{}') on chain id '{}' is in state '{}'; expected 'open' state",
+                opts.packet_src_port_id,
+                opts.packet_src_channel_id,
+                self.src_chain_id,
+                channel_end.state
+            ))
+            .exit();
+        }
 
         let conn_id = match channel_end.connection_hops.first() {
             None => {
@@ -166,7 +176,7 @@ impl Runnable for TxIcs20MsgTransferCmd {
         );
         if src_chain_client_state.chain_id != self.dst_chain_id {
             return Output::error(
-                format!("the requested port/channel ({}/{}) provides a path from chain '{}' to \
+                format!("the requested port/channel ('{}'/'{}') provides a path from chain '{}' to \
                  chain '{}' (not to the destination chain '{}'). Bailing due to mismatching arguments.",
                         opts.packet_src_port_id, opts.packet_src_channel_id,
                         self.src_chain_id,