diff --git a/eth/filters/api.go b/eth/filters/api.go
index 1a926fe14d..a4eaa9cec8 100644
--- a/eth/filters/api.go
+++ b/eth/filters/api.go
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/hexutil"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/internal/ethapi"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rpc"
 )
@@ -38,10 +37,11 @@ var (
 	errInvalidTopic      = errors.New("invalid topic(s)")
 	errFilterNotFound    = errors.New("filter not found")
 	errInvalidBlockRange = errors.New("invalid block range params")
+	errExceedMaxTopics   = errors.New("exceed max topics")
 )
 
-// The maximum number of topic criteria allowed
-const maxTopics = int(vm.LOG4 - vm.LOG0)
+// The maximum number of topic criteria allowed, vm.LOG4 - vm.LOG0
+const maxTopics = 4
 
 // filter is a helper struct that holds meta information over the filter type
 // and associated subscription in the event system.
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ func (api *FilterAPI) NewFilter(crit FilterCriteria) (rpc.ID, error) {
 // GetLogs returns logs matching the given argument that are stored within the state.
 func (api *FilterAPI) GetLogs(ctx context.Context, crit FilterCriteria) ([]*types.Log, error) {
 	if len(crit.Topics) > maxTopics {
-		return nil, errInvalidTopic
+		return nil, errExceedMaxTopics
 	}
 	var filter *Filter
 	if crit.BlockHash != nil {
diff --git a/eth/filters/filter_system.go b/eth/filters/filter_system.go
index 839caea9cf..f98a1f84ce 100644
--- a/eth/filters/filter_system.go
+++ b/eth/filters/filter_system.go
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ func (es *EventSystem) subscribe(sub *subscription) *Subscription {
 // block is "latest". If the fromBlock > toBlock an error is returned.
 func (es *EventSystem) SubscribeLogs(crit ethereum.FilterQuery, logs chan []*types.Log) (*Subscription, error) {
 	if len(crit.Topics) > maxTopics {
-		return nil, errInvalidTopic
+		return nil, errExceedMaxTopics
 	}
 	var from, to rpc.BlockNumber
 	if crit.FromBlock == nil {