diff --git a/eth/filters/api.go b/eth/filters/api.go
index 54e6e16604..882b43511a 100644
--- a/eth/filters/api.go
+++ b/eth/filters/api.go
@@ -400,6 +400,15 @@ func (api *FilterAPI) GetFilterLogs(ctx context.Context, id rpc.ID) ([]*types.Lo
 
 	var filter *Filter
 	if f.crit.BlockHash != nil {
+		// ensure the filter criteria does not specify block hash below the
+		// history prune point
+		header, err := api.sys.backend.HeaderByHash(ctx, *f.crit.BlockHash)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		if header.Number.Uint64() < api.events.backend.HistoryCutoff() {
+			return nil, &prunedHistoryError{}
+		}
 		// Block filter requested, construct a single-shot filter
 		filter = api.sys.NewBlockFilter(*f.crit.BlockHash, f.crit.Addresses, f.crit.Topics)
 	} else {