diff --git a/kombu/transport/virtual/base.py b/kombu/transport/virtual/base.py
index 95e539ac..d27cb375 100644
--- a/kombu/transport/virtual/base.py
+++ b/kombu/transport/virtual/base.py
@@ -462,14 +462,7 @@ class Channel(AbstractChannel, base.StdChannel):
             typ: cls(self) for typ, cls in self.exchange_types.items()
         }
 
-        try:
-            self.channel_id = self.connection._avail_channel_ids.pop()
-        except IndexError:
-            raise ResourceError(
-                'No free channel ids, current={}, channel_max={}'.format(
-                    len(self.connection.channels),
-                    self.connection.channel_max), (20, 10),
-            )
+        self.channel_id = self._get_free_channel_id()
 
         topts = self.connection.client.transport_options
         for opt_name in self.from_transport_options:
@@ -844,6 +837,22 @@ class Channel(AbstractChannel, base.StdChannel):
 
         return (self.max_priority - priority) if reverse else priority
 
+    def _get_free_channel_id(self):
+        # Cast to a set for fast lookups, and keep stored as an array
+        # for lower memory usage.
+        used_channel_ids = set(self.connection._used_channel_ids)
+
+        for channel_id in range(1, self.connection.channel_max + 1):
+            if channel_id not in used_channel_ids:
+                self.connection._used_channel_ids.append(channel_id)
+                return channel_id
+
+        raise ResourceError(
+            'No free channel ids, current={}, channel_max={}'.format(
+                len(self.connection.channels),
+                self.connection.channel_max), (20, 10),
+        )
+
 
 class Management(base.Management):
     """Base class for the AMQP management API."""
@@ -907,9 +916,7 @@ class Transport(base.Transport):
         polling_interval = client.transport_options.get('polling_interval')
         if polling_interval is not None:
             self.polling_interval = polling_interval
-        self._avail_channel_ids = array(
-            ARRAY_TYPE_H, range(self.channel_max, 0, -1),
-        )
+        self._used_channel_ids = array(ARRAY_TYPE_H)
 
     def create_channel(self, connection):
         try:
@@ -921,7 +928,11 @@ class Transport(base.Transport):
 
     def close_channel(self, channel):
         try:
-            self._avail_channel_ids.append(channel.channel_id)
+            try:
+                self._used_channel_ids.remove(channel.channel_id)
+            except ValueError:
+                # channel id already removed
+                pass
             try:
                 self.channels.remove(channel)
             except ValueError:
diff --git a/t/unit/transport/test_consul.py b/t/unit/transport/test_consul.py
index ce6c4fcb..d77b7a41 100644
--- a/t/unit/transport/test_consul.py
+++ b/t/unit/transport/test_consul.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from array import array
 from queue import Empty
 from unittest.mock import Mock
 
@@ -12,6 +13,8 @@ class test_Consul:
 
     def setup(self):
         self.connection = Mock()
+        self.connection._used_channel_ids = array('H')
+        self.connection.channel_max = 65535
         self.connection.client.transport_options = {}
         self.connection.client.port = 303
         self.consul = self.patching('consul.Consul').return_value
diff --git a/t/unit/transport/virtual/test_base.py b/t/unit/transport/virtual/test_base.py
index 681841a0..a5685ab9 100644
--- a/t/unit/transport/virtual/test_base.py
+++ b/t/unit/transport/virtual/test_base.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import io
 import socket
 import warnings
+from array import array
 from time import monotonic
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock, Mock, patch
 
@@ -178,13 +179,19 @@ class test_Channel:
         if self.channel._qos is not None:
             self.channel._qos._on_collect.cancel()
 
-    def test_exceeds_channel_max(self):
-        c = client()
-        t = c.transport
-        avail = t._avail_channel_ids = Mock(name='_avail_channel_ids')
-        avail.pop.side_effect = IndexError()
+    def test_get_free_channel_id(self):
+        conn = client()
+        channel = conn.channel()
+        assert channel.channel_id == 1
+        assert channel._get_free_channel_id() == 2
+
+    def test_get_free_channel_id__exceeds_channel_max(self):
+        conn = client()
+        conn.transport.channel_max = 2
+        channel = conn.channel()
+        channel._get_free_channel_id()
         with pytest.raises(ResourceError):
-            virtual.Channel(t)
+            channel._get_free_channel_id()
 
     def test_exchange_bind_interface(self):
         with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError):
@@ -577,6 +584,23 @@ class test_Transport:
         del(c1)  # so pyflakes doesn't complain
         del(c2)
 
+    def test_create_channel(self):
+        """Ensure create_channel can create channels successfully."""
+        assert self.transport.channels == []
+        created_channel = self.transport.create_channel(self.transport)
+        assert self.transport.channels == [created_channel]
+
+    def test_close_channel(self):
+        """Ensure close_channel actually removes the channel and updates
+        _used_channel_ids.
+        """
+        assert self.transport._used_channel_ids == array('H')
+        created_channel = self.transport.create_channel(self.transport)
+        assert self.transport._used_channel_ids == array('H', (1,))
+        self.transport.close_channel(created_channel)
+        assert self.transport.channels == []
+        assert self.transport._used_channel_ids == array('H')
+
     def test_drain_channel(self):
         channel = self.transport.create_channel(self.transport)
         with pytest.raises(virtual.Empty):