diff --git a/freqtrade/commands/arguments.py b/freqtrade/commands/arguments.py
index 025fee66c..3ebad54dc 100644
--- a/freqtrade/commands/arguments.py
+++ b/freqtrade/commands/arguments.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ ARGS_LIST_DATA = ["exchange", "dataformat_ohlcv", "pairs"]
 
 ARGS_DOWNLOAD_DATA = ["pairs", "pairs_file", "days", "new_pairs_days", "include_inactive",
                       "timerange", "download_trades", "exchange", "timeframes",
-                      "erase", "dataformat_ohlcv", "dataformat_trades"]
+                      "erase", "dataformat_ohlcv", "dataformat_trades", "trading_mode"]
 
 ARGS_PLOT_DATAFRAME = ["pairs", "indicators1", "indicators2", "plot_limit",
                        "db_url", "trade_source", "export", "exportfilename",
diff --git a/freqtrade/commands/data_commands.py b/freqtrade/commands/data_commands.py
index f55a857c4..2737e1013 100644
--- a/freqtrade/commands/data_commands.py
+++ b/freqtrade/commands/data_commands.py
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ def start_download_data(args: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     try:
 
         if config.get('download_trades'):
+            if config.get('trading_mode') == 'futures':
+                raise OperationalException("Trade download not supported for futures.")
             pairs_not_available = refresh_backtest_trades_data(
                 exchange, pairs=expanded_pairs, datadir=config['datadir'],
                 timerange=timerange, new_pairs_days=config['new_pairs_days'],
diff --git a/tests/commands/test_commands.py b/tests/commands/test_commands.py
index 384254b74..1981e9413 100644
--- a/tests/commands/test_commands.py
+++ b/tests/commands/test_commands.py
@@ -814,6 +814,18 @@ def test_download_data_trades(mocker, caplog):
     assert dl_mock.call_args[1]['timerange'].starttype == "date"
     assert dl_mock.call_count == 1
     assert convert_mock.call_count == 1
+    args = [
+        "download-data",
+        "--exchange", "kraken",
+        "--pairs", "ETH/BTC", "XRP/BTC",
+        "--days", "20",
+        "--trading-mode", "futures",
+        "--dl-trades"
+    ]
+    with pytest.raises(OperationalException,
+                       match="Trade download not supported for futures."):
+
+        start_download_data(get_args(args))
 
 
 def test_start_convert_trades(mocker, caplog):