diff --git a/extern/storage-sealing/input.go b/extern/storage-sealing/input.go
index 218616aea..bdd03884a 100644
--- a/extern/storage-sealing/input.go
+++ b/extern/storage-sealing/input.go
@@ -274,6 +274,16 @@ func (m *Sealing) SectorAddPieceToAny(ctx context.Context, size abi.UnpaddedPiec
 		return api.SectorOffset{}, xerrors.Errorf("getting proposal CID: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	_, head, err := m.Api.ChainHead(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return api.SectorOffset{}, xerrors.Errorf("couldnt get chain head: %w", err)
+	}
+	if head > deal.DealProposal.StartEpoch {
+		return api.SectorOffset{}, xerrors.Errorf(
+			"cannot add piece for deal with piece CID %s: current epoch %d has passed deal proposal start epoch %d",
+			deal.DealProposal.PieceCID, head, deal.DealProposal.StartEpoch)
+	}
+
 	m.inputLk.Lock()
 	if _, exist := m.pendingPieces[proposalCID(deal)]; exist {
 		m.inputLk.Unlock()