diff --git a/packages/core/src/lib/store/index.ts b/packages/core/src/lib/store/index.ts
index 9ed938ff3c..6d5cedc4de 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/lib/store/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/lib/store/index.ts
@@ -246,6 +246,16 @@ class Store extends BaseProtocol implements IStore {
 
     ensurePubsubTopicIsConfigured(pubSubTopicForQuery, this.pubSubTopics);
 
+    // check that the pubSubTopic from the Cursor and Decoder match
+    if (
+      options?.cursor?.pubsubTopic &&
+      options.cursor.pubsubTopic !== pubSubTopicForQuery
+    ) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `Cursor pubsub topic (${options?.cursor?.pubsubTopic}) does not match decoder pubsub topic (${pubSubTopicForQuery})`
+      );
+    }
+
     const decodersAsMap = new Map();
     decoders.forEach((dec) => {
       if (decodersAsMap.has(dec.contentTopic)) {
@@ -397,10 +407,7 @@ async function* paginate<T extends IDecodedMessage>(
   }
 }
 
-export async function createCursor(
-  message: IDecodedMessage,
-  pubsubTopic: string = DefaultPubSubTopic
-): Promise<Cursor> {
+export async function createCursor(message: IDecodedMessage): Promise<Cursor> {
   if (
     !message ||
     !message.timestamp ||
@@ -418,7 +425,7 @@ export async function createCursor(
 
   return {
     digest,
-    pubsubTopic,
+    pubsubTopic: message.pubSubTopic,
     senderTime: messageTime,
     receiverTime: messageTime
   };