diff --git a/nano/lib/errors.cpp b/nano/lib/errors.cpp
index a97ceccfb0..0c70e3c7d3 100644
--- a/nano/lib/errors.cpp
+++ b/nano/lib/errors.cpp
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ std::string nano::error_rpc_messages::message (int ev) const
 		case nano::error_rpc::confirmation_not_found:
 			return "Active confirmation not found";
 		case nano::error_rpc::difficulty_limit:
-			return "Difficulty above config limit";
+			return "Difficulty above config limit or below publish threshold";
 		case nano::error_rpc::invalid_balance:
 			return "Invalid balance number";
 		case nano::error_rpc::invalid_destinations:
diff --git a/nano/nano_node/entry.cpp b/nano/nano_node/entry.cpp
index 5f06518522..6765dfb32c 100644
--- a/nano/nano_node/entry.cpp
+++ b/nano/nano_node/entry.cpp
@@ -390,6 +390,11 @@ int main (int argc, char * const * argv)
 						std::cerr << "Invalid difficulty\n";
 						result = -1;
 					}
+					else if (difficulty < network_constants.publish_threshold)
+					{
+						std::cerr << "Difficulty below publish threshold\n";
+						result = -1;
+					}
 				}
 				if (!result)
 				{
diff --git a/nano/node/json_handler.cpp b/nano/node/json_handler.cpp
index 647700b67d..8be6142ce1 100644
--- a/nano/node/json_handler.cpp
+++ b/nano/node/json_handler.cpp
@@ -4345,7 +4345,7 @@ void nano::json_handler::work_generate ()
 			ec = nano::error_rpc::bad_difficulty_format;
 		}
 	}
-	if (!ec && difficulty > node_rpc_config.max_work_generate_difficulty)
+	if (!ec && (difficulty > node_rpc_config.max_work_generate_difficulty || difficulty < node.network_params.network.publish_threshold))
 	{
 		ec = nano::error_rpc::difficulty_limit;
 	}