diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/Eventsourced.scala b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/Eventsourced.scala
index 739a6dd9df..9b1ac8d859 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/Eventsourced.scala
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/Eventsourced.scala
@@ -427,10 +427,20 @@ private[persistence] trait Eventsourced extends Snapshotter with PersistenceStas
    * If the delete is successful a [[DeleteMessagesSuccess]] will be sent to the actor.
    * If the delete fails a [[DeleteMessagesFailure]] will be sent to the actor.
    *
+   * The given `toSequenceNr` must be less than or equal to [[Eventsourced#lastSequenceNr]], otherwise
+   * [[DeleteMessagesFailure]] is sent to the actor without performing the delete. All persistent
+   * messages may be deleted without specifying the actual sequence number by using `Long.MaxValue`
+   * as the `toSequenceNr`.
+   *
    * @param toSequenceNr upper sequence number bound of persistent messages to be deleted.
    */
-  def deleteMessages(toSequenceNr: Long): Unit =
-    journal ! DeleteMessagesTo(persistenceId, toSequenceNr, self)
+  def deleteMessages(toSequenceNr: Long): Unit = {
+    if (toSequenceNr == Long.MaxValue || toSequenceNr <= lastSequenceNr)
+      journal ! DeleteMessagesTo(persistenceId, toSequenceNr, self)
+    else
+      self ! DeleteMessagesFailure(new RuntimeException(
+        s"toSequenceNr [$toSequenceNr] must be less than or equal to lastSequenceNr [$lastSequenceNr]"), toSequenceNr)
+  }
 
   /**
    * Returns `true` if this persistent actor is currently recovering.
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/JournalProtocol.scala b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/JournalProtocol.scala
index 1a7876fdf3..c3fee2a1c9 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/JournalProtocol.scala
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/JournalProtocol.scala
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ private[persistence] object JournalProtocol {
 
   /**
    * Request to delete all persistent messages with sequence numbers up to `toSequenceNr`
-   * (inclusive).
+   * (inclusive). `Long.MaxValue` may be used as `toSequenceNr` to delete all persistent messages.
    */
   final case class DeleteMessagesTo(persistenceId: String, toSequenceNr: Long, persistentActor: ActorRef)
     extends Request
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/PersistentActorDeleteFailureSpec.scala b/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/PersistentActorDeleteFailureSpec.scala
index c393e4cd05..96a0fc8106 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/PersistentActorDeleteFailureSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/PersistentActorDeleteFailureSpec.scala
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class PersistentActorDeleteFailureSpec extends PersistenceSpec(PersistenceSpec.c
     "have default warn logging be triggered, when deletion failed" in {
       val persistentActor = system.actorOf(Props(classOf[DoesNotHandleDeleteFailureActor], name, testActor))
       system.eventStream.subscribe(testActor, classOf[Logging.Warning])
-      persistentActor ! DeleteTo(100)
+      persistentActor ! DeleteTo(Long.MaxValue)
       val message = expectMsgType[Warning].message.toString
       message should include("Failed to deleteMessages")
       message should include("Boom! Unable to delete events!") // the `cause` message
@@ -65,9 +65,9 @@ class PersistentActorDeleteFailureSpec extends PersistenceSpec(PersistenceSpec.c
     "be receive an DeleteMessagesFailure when deletion failed, and the default logging should not be triggered" in {
       val persistentActor = system.actorOf(Props(classOf[HandlesDeleteFailureActor], name, testActor))
       system.eventStream.subscribe(testActor, classOf[Logging.Warning])
-      persistentActor ! DeleteTo(100)
+      persistentActor ! DeleteTo(Long.MaxValue)
       expectMsgType[DeleteMessagesFailure]
-      expectNoMsg(100.millis) // since the actor handled the message, we do not issue warn logging automatically
+      expectNoMessage(100.millis) // since the actor handled the message, we do not issue warn logging automatically
     }
 
   }
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/PersistentActorSpec.scala b/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/PersistentActorSpec.scala
index e1caa3230c..8461c34ed4 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/PersistentActorSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/PersistentActorSpec.scala
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ object PersistentActorSpec {
       case d: DeleteMessagesSuccess ⇒
         val replyTo = askedForDelete.getOrElse(throw new RuntimeException("Received DeleteMessagesSuccess without anyone asking for delete!"))
         replyTo ! d
+      case d: DeleteMessagesFailure ⇒
+        val replyTo = askedForDelete.getOrElse(throw new RuntimeException("Received DeleteMessagesFailure without anyone asking for delete!"))
+        replyTo ! d
     }
 
     override protected def onPersistRejected(cause: Throwable, event: Any, seqNr: Long): Unit =
@@ -1538,6 +1541,18 @@ abstract class PersistentActorSpec(config: Config) extends PersistenceSpec(confi
       expectMsg(Nil)
     }
 
+    "not be able to delete higher seqnr than current" in {
+      val persistentActor = behavior1PersistentActor
+      persistentActor ! Cmd("b")
+      persistentActor ! GetState
+      expectMsg(List("a-1", "a-2", "b-1", "b-2"))
+      persistentActor ! Delete(5L) // > current 4
+      persistentActor ! "boom" // restart, recover
+      expectMsgType[DeleteMessagesFailure].cause.getMessage should include("less than or equal to lastSequenceNr")
+      persistentActor ! GetState
+      expectMsg(List("a-1", "a-2", "b-1", "b-2"))
+    }
+
     "recover the message which caused the restart" in {
       val persistentActor = recoverMessageCausedRestart
       persistentActor ! "Boom"