diff --git a/ctxc/filters/api.go b/ctxc/filters/api.go
index 8e1f187a15..d00294826c 100644
--- a/ctxc/filters/api.go
+++ b/ctxc/filters/api.go
@@ -36,8 +36,12 @@ 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, 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.
 type filter struct {
@@ -323,6 +327,9 @@ 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, errExceedMaxTopics
+	}
 	var filter *Filter
 	if crit.BlockHash != nil {
 		// Block filter requested, construct a single-shot filter
diff --git a/ctxc/filters/filter_system.go b/ctxc/filters/filter_system.go
index ea6e5bf960..e81cdbced7 100644
--- a/ctxc/filters/filter_system.go
+++ b/ctxc/filters/filter_system.go
@@ -263,6 +263,9 @@ func (es *EventSystem) subscribe(sub *subscription) *Subscription {
 // given criteria to the given logs channel. Default value for the from and to
 // block is "latest". If the fromBlock > toBlock an error is returned.
 func (es *EventSystem) SubscribeLogs(crit cortex.FilterQuery, logs chan []*types.Log) (*Subscription, error) {
+	if len(crit.Topics) > maxTopics {
+		return nil, errExceedMaxTopics
+	}
 	var from, to rpc.BlockNumber
 	if crit.FromBlock == nil {
 		from = rpc.LatestBlockNumber
diff --git a/ctxc/filters/filter_system_test.go b/ctxc/filters/filter_system_test.go
index 99e4bff3c6..fb52ec40ce 100644
--- a/ctxc/filters/filter_system_test.go
+++ b/ctxc/filters/filter_system_test.go
@@ -251,6 +251,8 @@ func TestLogFilterCreation(t *testing.T) {
 			{FilterCriteria{FromBlock: big.NewInt(rpc.PendingBlockNumber.Int64()), ToBlock: big.NewInt(100)}, false},
 			// from block "higher" than to block
 			{FilterCriteria{FromBlock: big.NewInt(rpc.PendingBlockNumber.Int64()), ToBlock: big.NewInt(rpc.LatestBlockNumber.Int64())}, false},
+			// topics more then 4
+			{FilterCriteria{Topics: [][]common.Hash{{}, {}, {}, {}, {}}}, false},
 		}
 	)
 
@@ -285,6 +287,7 @@ func TestInvalidLogFilterCreation(t *testing.T) {
 		0: {FromBlock: big.NewInt(rpc.PendingBlockNumber.Int64()), ToBlock: big.NewInt(rpc.LatestBlockNumber.Int64())},
 		1: {FromBlock: big.NewInt(rpc.PendingBlockNumber.Int64()), ToBlock: big.NewInt(100)},
 		2: {FromBlock: big.NewInt(rpc.LatestBlockNumber.Int64()), ToBlock: big.NewInt(100)},
+		3: {Topics: [][]common.Hash{{}, {}, {}, {}, {}}},
 	}
 
 	for i, test := range testCases {
@@ -310,6 +313,7 @@ func TestInvalidGetLogsRequest(t *testing.T) {
 		0: {BlockHash: &blockHash, FromBlock: big.NewInt(100)},
 		1: {BlockHash: &blockHash, ToBlock: big.NewInt(500)},
 		2: {BlockHash: &blockHash, FromBlock: big.NewInt(rpc.LatestBlockNumber.Int64())},
+		3: {BlockHash: &blockHash, Topics: [][]common.Hash{{}, {}, {}, {}, {}}},
 	}
 
 	for i, test := range testCases {