diff --git a/cmd/lncli/commands.go b/cmd/lncli/commands.go
index 45e06a51..ad7f751e 100644
--- a/cmd/lncli/commands.go
+++ b/cmd/lncli/commands.go
@@ -3532,7 +3532,7 @@ var forwardingHistoryCommand = cli.Command{
 	payment circuits (HTLCs) over a particular time range (--start_time and
 	--end_time). The start and end times are meant to be expressed in
 	seconds since the Unix epoch. If --start_time isn't provided,
-	then 24 hours ago is used.  If --end_time isn't provided,
+	then the Unix epoch (01-01-1970) is used.  If --end_time isn't provided,
 	then the current time is used.
 
 	The max number of events returned is 50k. The default number is 100,
diff --git a/rpcserver.go b/rpcserver.go
index 99234497..c42e5696 100644
--- a/rpcserver.go
+++ b/rpcserver.go
@@ -4637,13 +4637,8 @@ func (r *rpcServer) ForwardingHistory(ctx context.Context,
 		numEvents uint32
 	)
 
-	// If the start time wasn't specified, we'll default to 24 hours ago.
-	if req.StartTime == 0 {
-		now := time.Now()
-		startTime = now.Add(-time.Hour * 24)
-	} else {
-		startTime = time.Unix(int64(req.StartTime), 0)
-	}
+	// startTime defaults to the Unix epoch (0 unixtime, or midnight 01-01-1970).
+	startTime = time.Unix(int64(req.StartTime), 0)
 
 	// If the end time wasn't specified, assume a default end time of now.
 	if req.EndTime == 0 {