diff --git a/node/impl/full/eth.go b/node/impl/full/eth.go
index 7af9e700005..919380ad15e 100644
--- a/node/impl/full/eth.go
+++ b/node/impl/full/eth.go
@@ -254,6 +254,9 @@ func (a *EthModule) parseBlkParam(ctx context.Context, blkParam string, strict b
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot parse block number: %v", err)
 		}
+		if abi.ChainEpoch(num) > head.Height()-1 {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("requested a future epoch (beyond 'latest')")
+		}
 		ts, err := a.Chain.GetTipsetByHeight(ctx, abi.ChainEpoch(num), nil, true)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot get tipset at height: %v", num)