diff --git a/beacon_node/network/src/network_beacon_processor/rpc_methods.rs b/beacon_node/network/src/network_beacon_processor/rpc_methods.rs
index 85e4f04641..9ddba86b81 100644
--- a/beacon_node/network/src/network_beacon_processor/rpc_methods.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/network/src/network_beacon_processor/rpc_methods.rs
@@ -1200,8 +1200,15 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> NetworkBeaconProcessor<T> {
             .chain
             .custody_columns_for_epoch(Some(request_start_epoch));
 
+        let indices_to_retrieve = req
+            .columns
+            .iter()
+            .copied()
+            .filter(|c| available_columns.contains(c))
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+
         for root in block_roots {
-            for index in available_columns {
+            for index in &indices_to_retrieve {
                 match self.chain.get_data_column(&root, index) {
                     Ok(Some(data_column_sidecar)) => {
                         // Due to skip slots, data columns could be out of the range, we ensure they
diff --git a/beacon_node/network/src/network_beacon_processor/tests.rs b/beacon_node/network/src/network_beacon_processor/tests.rs
index 916548eb9d..2027a525e6 100644
--- a/beacon_node/network/src/network_beacon_processor/tests.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/network/src/network_beacon_processor/tests.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@ use beacon_processor::{work_reprocessing_queue::*, *};
 use gossipsub::MessageAcceptance;
 use itertools::Itertools;
 use lighthouse_network::rpc::InboundRequestId;
-use lighthouse_network::rpc::methods::{BlobsByRangeRequest, MetaDataV3};
+use lighthouse_network::rpc::methods::{
+    BlobsByRangeRequest, DataColumnsByRangeRequest, MetaDataV3,
+};
 use lighthouse_network::{
     Client, MessageId, NetworkConfig, NetworkGlobals, PeerId, Response,
     discv5::enr::{self, CombinedKey},
@@ -30,6 +32,7 @@ use lighthouse_network::{
 };
 use matches::assert_matches;
 use slot_clock::SlotClock;
+use std::collections::HashSet;
 use std::iter::Iterator;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::time::Duration;
@@ -432,6 +435,20 @@ impl TestRig {
             .unwrap();
     }
 
+    pub fn enqueue_data_columns_by_range_request(&self, count: u64, columns: Vec<u64>) {
+        self.network_beacon_processor
+            .send_data_columns_by_range_request(
+                PeerId::random(),
+                InboundRequestId::new_unchecked(42, 24),
+                DataColumnsByRangeRequest {
+                    start_slot: 0,
+                    count,
+                    columns,
+                },
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+    }
+
     pub fn enqueue_backfill_batch(&self) {
         self.network_beacon_processor
             .send_chain_segment(
@@ -1463,3 +1480,56 @@ async fn test_data_column_import_notifies_sync() {
         }
     }
 }
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn test_data_columns_by_range_request_only_returns_requested_columns() {
+    if test_spec::<E>().fulu_fork_epoch.is_none() {
+        return;
+    };
+
+    let mut rig = TestRig::new(64).await;
+    let slot_count = 4;
+
+    let all_custody_columns = rig
+        .chain
+        .sampling_columns_for_epoch(rig.chain.epoch().unwrap());
+    let available_columns: Vec<u64> = all_custody_columns.to_vec();
+
+    let requested_columns = vec![available_columns[0], available_columns[2]];
+
+    rig.enqueue_data_columns_by_range_request(slot_count, requested_columns.clone());
+
+    let mut received_columns = Vec::new();
+
+    while let Some(next) = rig.network_rx.recv().await {
+        if let NetworkMessage::SendResponse {
+            peer_id: _,
+            response: Response::DataColumnsByRange(data_column),
+            inbound_request_id: _,
+        } = next
+        {
+            if let Some(column) = data_column {
+                received_columns.push(column.index);
+            } else {
+                break;
+            }
+        } else {
+            panic!("unexpected message {:?}", next);
+        }
+    }
+
+    for received_index in &received_columns {
+        assert!(
+            requested_columns.contains(received_index),
+            "Received column index {} was not in requested columns {:?}",
+            received_index,
+            requested_columns
+        );
+    }
+
+    let unique_received: HashSet<_> = received_columns.into_iter().collect();
+    assert!(
+        !unique_received.is_empty(),
+        "Should have received at least some data columns"
+    );
+}