diff --git a/osu.Game/Online/API/Requests/GetScoresRequest.cs b/osu.Game/Online/API/Requests/GetScoresRequest.cs
index 4379daa47b..c32d8045ab 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Online/API/Requests/GetScoresRequest.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Online/API/Requests/GetScoresRequest.cs
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.API.Requests
             if (!beatmap.OnlineBeatmapID.HasValue)
                 throw new InvalidOperationException($"Cannot lookup a beatmap's scores without having a populated {nameof(BeatmapInfo.OnlineBeatmapID)}.");
 
+            if (scope == LeaderboardScope.Local)
+                throw new InvalidOperationException("Should not attempt to request online scores for a local scoped leaderboard");
+
             this.beatmap = beatmap;
             this.scope = scope;
             this.ruleset = ruleset;