diff --git a/primitives/api/src/lib.rs b/primitives/api/src/lib.rs
index 91d4b07a1cefc..dcc70cbb44887 100644
--- a/primitives/api/src/lib.rs
+++ b/primitives/api/src/lib.rs
@@ -519,6 +519,8 @@ pub enum ApiError {
 	StateBackendIsNotTrie,
 	#[error(transparent)]
 	Application(#[from] Box<dyn std::error::Error + Send + Sync>),
+	#[error("Api called for an unknownBlock: {0}")]
+	UnknownBlock(String),
 }
 
 /// Extends the runtime api implementation with some common functionality.
diff --git a/primitives/blockchain/src/error.rs b/primitives/blockchain/src/error.rs
index c82fb9bebf4ee..22ad24790df1e 100644
--- a/primitives/blockchain/src/error.rs
+++ b/primitives/blockchain/src/error.rs
@@ -188,6 +188,7 @@ impl From<Box<dyn sp_state_machine::Error>> for Error {
 impl From<Error> for ApiError {
 	fn from(err: Error) -> ApiError {
 		match err {
+			Error::UnknownBlock(msg) => ApiError::UnknownBlock(msg),
 			Error::RuntimeApiError(err) => err,
 			e => ApiError::Application(Box::new(e)),
 		}