diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/components/workpad_filters/__stories__/elements.ts b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/components/workpad_filters/__stories__/elements.ts
index 0da3e32aa5d88..2188d1583c44a 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/components/workpad_filters/__stories__/elements.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/components/workpad_filters/__stories__/elements.ts
@@ -41,14 +41,6 @@ export const element: CanvasElement = {
   filter: '',
 };
 
-export const element: CanvasElement = {
-  id: '0',
-  position: generatePosition(0),
-  type: 'element',
-  expression: `filters group="${group2}"`,
-  filter: '',
-};
-
 const element1: CanvasElement = {
   id: '1',
   position: generatePosition(1),
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/functions/filters.ts b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/functions/filters.ts
index ca2cede4e8555..e410a37a44fa2 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/functions/filters.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/functions/filters.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import { getGlobalFilters, getWorkpadVariablesAsObject } from '../state/selector
 import { ExpressionValueFilter } from '../../types';
 import { getFunctionHelp } from '../../i18n';
 import { InitializeArguments } from '.';
-import { getFiltersByGroups } from '../lib/filter';
 
 export interface Arguments {
   group: string[];
@@ -36,7 +35,11 @@ function getFiltersByGroup(allFilters: string[], groups?: string[], ungrouped =
     });
   }
 
-  return getFiltersByGroups(allFilters, groups);
+  return allFilters.filter((filter) => {
+    const ast = fromExpression(filter);
+    const expGroups: string[] = get(ast, 'chain[0].arguments.filterGroup', []);
+    return expGroups.length > 0 && expGroups.every((expGroup) => groups.includes(expGroup));
+  });
 }
 
 type FiltersFunction = ExpressionFunctionDefinition<