diff --git a/src/aleph/db/accessors/messages.py b/src/aleph/db/accessors/messages.py
index 562b0daf2..c3b5e0256 100644
--- a/src/aleph/db/accessors/messages.py
+++ b/src/aleph/db/accessors/messages.py
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ def make_matching_messages_query(
         )
         if start_block:
             select_stmt = select_stmt.where(
-                select_earliest_confirmation.c.height.is_(None) or select_earliest_confirmation.c.height >= start_block
+                select_earliest_confirmation.c.height.is_(None) | select_earliest_confirmation.c.height >= start_block
             )
         if end_block:
             select_stmt = select_stmt.where(