diff --git a/swarm/network/stream/delivery.go b/swarm/network/stream/delivery.go
index e1a13fe8d5..489d2a0293 100644
--- a/swarm/network/stream/delivery.go
+++ b/swarm/network/stream/delivery.go
@@ -259,6 +259,11 @@ func (d *Delivery) RequestFromPeers(ctx context.Context, req *network.Request) (
 				//log.Warn("Delivery.RequestFromPeers: peer not found", "id", id)
 				return true
 			}
+			// nodes that do not provide stream protocol
+			// should not be requested, e.g. bootnodes
+			if !hasStreamCap(sp.Peer.Peer) {
+				return true
+			}
 			spID = &id
 			return false
 		})
diff --git a/swarm/network/stream/delivery_test.go b/swarm/network/stream/delivery_test.go
index 70d3829b3f..13e13c0f58 100644
--- a/swarm/network/stream/delivery_test.go
+++ b/swarm/network/stream/delivery_test.go
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ func TestRequestFromPeers(t *testing.T) {
 	addr := network.RandomAddr()
 	to := network.NewKademlia(addr.OAddr, network.NewKadParams())
 	delivery := NewDelivery(to, nil)
-	protocolsPeer := protocols.NewPeer(p2p.NewPeer(dummyPeerID, "dummy", nil), nil, nil)
+	protocolsPeer := protocols.NewPeer(p2p.NewPeer(dummyPeerID, "dummy", []p2p.Cap{{Name: "stream"}}), nil, nil)
 	peer := network.NewPeer(&network.BzzPeer{
 		BzzAddr:   network.RandomAddr(),
 		LightNode: false,
diff --git a/swarm/network/stream/stream.go b/swarm/network/stream/stream.go
index 989fbaeb09..d0e12f5b5c 100644
--- a/swarm/network/stream/stream.go
+++ b/swarm/network/stream/stream.go
@@ -516,6 +516,11 @@ func (r *Registry) requestPeerSubscriptions(kad *network.Kademlia, subs map[enod
 	// nil as base takes the node's base; we need to pass 255 as `EachConn` runs
 	// from deepest bins backwards
 	kad.EachConn(nil, 255, func(p *network.Peer, po int) bool {
+		// nodes that do not provide stream protocol
+		// should not be subscribed, e.g. bootnodes
+		if !hasStreamCap(p.Peer.Peer) {
+			return true
+		}
 		//if the peer's bin is shallower than the kademlia depth,
 		//only the peer's bin should be subscribed
 		if po < kadDepth {
@@ -924,3 +929,13 @@ func (api *API) SubscribeStream(peerId enode.ID, s Stream, history *Range, prior
 func (api *API) UnsubscribeStream(peerId enode.ID, s Stream) error {
 	return api.streamer.Unsubscribe(peerId, s)
 }
+
+// hasStreamCap check if p2p.Peer the "stream" capability.
+func hasStreamCap(p *p2p.Peer) (yes bool) {
+	for _, c := range p.Caps() {
+		if c.Name == "stream" {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}