diff --git a/whisper/whisperv6/filter.go b/whisper/whisperv6/filter.go
index 75c31209c9..d7b71795de 100644
--- a/whisper/whisperv6/filter.go
+++ b/whisper/whisperv6/filter.go
@@ -238,16 +238,17 @@ func (f *Filter) Retrieve() (all []*ReceivedMessage) {
 
 // MatchMessage checks if the filter matches an already decrypted
 // message (i.e. a Message that has already been handled by
-// MatchEnvelope when checked by a previous filter)
+// MatchEnvelope when checked by a previous filter).
+// Topics are not checked here, since this is done by topic matchers.
 func (f *Filter) MatchMessage(msg *ReceivedMessage) bool {
 	if f.PoW > 0 && msg.PoW < f.PoW {
 		return false
 	}
 
 	if f.expectsAsymmetricEncryption() && msg.isAsymmetricEncryption() {
-		return IsPubKeyEqual(&f.KeyAsym.PublicKey, msg.Dst) && f.MatchTopic(msg.Topic)
+		return IsPubKeyEqual(&f.KeyAsym.PublicKey, msg.Dst)
 	} else if f.expectsSymmetricEncryption() && msg.isSymmetricEncryption() {
-		return f.SymKeyHash == msg.SymKeyHash && f.MatchTopic(msg.Topic)
+		return f.SymKeyHash == msg.SymKeyHash
 	}
 	return false
 }
@@ -255,27 +256,9 @@ func (f *Filter) MatchMessage(msg *ReceivedMessage) bool {
 // MatchEnvelope checks if it's worth decrypting the message. If
 // it returns `true`, client code is expected to attempt decrypting
 // the message and subsequently call MatchMessage.
+// Topics are not checked here, since this is done by topic matchers.
 func (f *Filter) MatchEnvelope(envelope *Envelope) bool {
-	if f.PoW > 0 && envelope.pow < f.PoW {
-		return false
-	}
-
-	return f.MatchTopic(envelope.Topic)
-}
-
-// MatchTopic checks that the filter captures a given topic.
-func (f *Filter) MatchTopic(topic TopicType) bool {
-	if len(f.Topics) == 0 {
-		// any topic matches
-		return true
-	}
-
-	for _, bt := range f.Topics {
-		if matchSingleTopic(topic, bt) {
-			return true
-		}
-	}
-	return false
+	return f.PoW <= 0 || envelope.pow >= f.PoW
 }
 
 func matchSingleTopic(topic TopicType, bt []byte) bool {
diff --git a/whisper/whisperv6/filter_test.go b/whisper/whisperv6/filter_test.go
index e7230ef388..491e137bdb 100644
--- a/whisper/whisperv6/filter_test.go
+++ b/whisper/whisperv6/filter_test.go
@@ -303,9 +303,8 @@ func TestMatchEnvelope(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("failed generateMessageParams with seed %d: %s.", seed, err)
 	}
 
-	params.Topic[0] = 0xFF // ensure mismatch
+	params.Topic[0] = 0xFF // topic mismatch
 
-	// mismatch with pseudo-random data
 	msg, err := NewSentMessage(params)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to create new message with seed %d: %s.", seed, err)
@@ -315,11 +314,13 @@ func TestMatchEnvelope(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("failed Wrap with seed %d: %s.", seed, err)
 	}
 	match := fsym.MatchEnvelope(env)
-	if match {
+	if !match {
+		// topic mismatch should have no affect, as topics are handled by topic matchers
 		t.Fatalf("failed MatchEnvelope symmetric with seed %d.", seed)
 	}
 	match = fasym.MatchEnvelope(env)
-	if match {
+	if !match {
+		// topic mismatch should have no affect, as topics are handled by topic matchers
 		t.Fatalf("failed MatchEnvelope asymmetric with seed %d.", seed)
 	}
 
@@ -396,7 +397,7 @@ func TestMatchEnvelope(t *testing.T) {
 	// asymmetric + matching topic: match
 	fasym.Topics[i] = fasym.Topics[i+1]
 	match = fasym.MatchEnvelope(env)
-	if match {
+	if !match {
 		t.Fatalf("failed MatchEnvelope(asymmetric + matching topic) with seed %d.", seed)
 	}
 
@@ -431,7 +432,8 @@ func TestMatchEnvelope(t *testing.T) {
 	// filter with topic + envelope without topic: mismatch
 	fasym.Topics = fsym.Topics
 	match = fasym.MatchEnvelope(env)
-	if match {
+	if !match {
+		// topic mismatch should have no affect, as topics are handled by topic matchers
 		t.Fatalf("failed MatchEnvelope(filter without topic + envelope without topic) with seed %d.", seed)
 	}
 }
@@ -487,7 +489,8 @@ func TestMatchMessageSym(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// topic mismatch
 	f.Topics[index][0]++
-	if f.MatchMessage(msg) {
+	if !f.MatchMessage(msg) {
+		// topic mismatch should have no affect, as topics are handled by topic matchers
 		t.Fatalf("failed MatchEnvelope(topic mismatch) with seed %d.", seed)
 	}
 	f.Topics[index][0]--
@@ -580,7 +583,8 @@ func TestMatchMessageAsym(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// topic mismatch
 	f.Topics[index][0]++
-	if f.MatchMessage(msg) {
+	if !f.MatchMessage(msg) {
+		// topic mismatch should have no affect, as topics are handled by topic matchers
 		t.Fatalf("failed MatchEnvelope(topic mismatch) with seed %d.", seed)
 	}
 	f.Topics[index][0]--
@@ -829,8 +833,9 @@ func TestVariableTopics(t *testing.T) {
 
 		f.Topics[i][lastTopicByte]++
 		match = f.MatchEnvelope(env)
-		if match {
-			t.Fatalf("MatchEnvelope symmetric with seed %d, step %d: false positive.", seed, i)
+		if !match {
+			// topic mismatch should have no affect, as topics are handled by topic matchers
+			t.Fatalf("MatchEnvelope symmetric with seed %d, step %d.", seed, i)
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/whisper/whisperv6/whisper.go b/whisper/whisperv6/whisper.go
index b0b601f032..81f59b3cc7 100644
--- a/whisper/whisperv6/whisper.go
+++ b/whisper/whisperv6/whisper.go
@@ -928,24 +928,6 @@ func (whisper *Whisper) Envelopes() []*Envelope {
 	return all
 }
 
-// Messages iterates through all currently floating envelopes
-// and retrieves all the messages, that this filter could decrypt.
-func (whisper *Whisper) Messages(id string) []*ReceivedMessage {
-	result := make([]*ReceivedMessage, 0)
-	whisper.poolMu.RLock()
-	defer whisper.poolMu.RUnlock()
-
-	if filter := whisper.filters.Get(id); filter != nil {
-		for _, env := range whisper.envelopes {
-			msg := filter.processEnvelope(env)
-			if msg != nil {
-				result = append(result, msg)
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	return result
-}
-
 // isEnvelopeCached checks if envelope with specific hash has already been received and cached.
 func (whisper *Whisper) isEnvelopeCached(hash common.Hash) bool {
 	whisper.poolMu.Lock()
diff --git a/whisper/whisperv6/whisper_test.go b/whisper/whisperv6/whisper_test.go
index 99e5f0bbb4..3a219cd133 100644
--- a/whisper/whisperv6/whisper_test.go
+++ b/whisper/whisperv6/whisper_test.go
@@ -75,10 +75,6 @@ func TestWhisperBasic(t *testing.T) {
 	if len(mail) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("failed w.Envelopes().")
 	}
-	m := w.Messages("non-existent")
-	if len(m) != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("failed w.Messages.")
-	}
 
 	derived := pbkdf2.Key([]byte(peerID), nil, 65356, aesKeyLength, sha256.New)
 	if !validateDataIntegrity(derived, aesKeyLength) {
@@ -593,7 +589,7 @@ func TestCustomization(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// check w.messages()
-	id, err := w.Subscribe(f)
+	_, err = w.Subscribe(f)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed subscribe with seed %d: %s.", seed, err)
 	}
@@ -602,11 +598,6 @@ func TestCustomization(t *testing.T) {
 	if len(mail) > 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("received premature mail")
 	}
-
-	mail = w.Messages(id)
-	if len(mail) != 2 {
-		t.Fatalf("failed to get whisper messages")
-	}
 }
 
 func TestSymmetricSendCycle(t *testing.T) {