diff --git a/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp b/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp
index 7c6ab578ea4..44334b7a390 100644
--- a/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp
+++ b/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp
@@ -296,6 +296,7 @@ static RPCHelpMan waitfornewblock()
     int timeout = 0;
     if (!request.params[0].isNull())
         timeout = request.params[0].getInt<int>();
+    if (timeout < 0) throw JSONRPCError(RPC_MISC_ERROR, "Negative timeout");
 
     CUpdatedBlock block;
     {
@@ -343,6 +344,7 @@ static RPCHelpMan waitforblock()
 
     if (!request.params[1].isNull())
         timeout = request.params[1].getInt<int>();
+    if (timeout < 0) throw JSONRPCError(RPC_MISC_ERROR, "Negative timeout");
 
     CUpdatedBlock block;
     {
@@ -391,6 +393,7 @@ static RPCHelpMan waitforblockheight()
 
     if (!request.params[1].isNull())
         timeout = request.params[1].getInt<int>();
+    if (timeout < 0) throw JSONRPCError(RPC_MISC_ERROR, "Negative timeout");
 
     CUpdatedBlock block;
     {