diff --git a/fs/smb/server/transport_tcp.c b/fs/smb/server/transport_tcp.c
index 8d7fe71f525c..13b711ea575d 100644
--- a/fs/smb/server/transport_tcp.c
+++ b/fs/smb/server/transport_tcp.c
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ static int ksmbd_kthread_fn(void *p)
 
 skip_max_ip_conns_limit:
 		if (server_conf.max_connections &&
-		    atomic_inc_return(&active_num_conn) >= server_conf.max_connections) {
+		    atomic_inc_return(&active_num_conn) > server_conf.max_connections) {
 			pr_info_ratelimited("Limit the maximum number of connections(%u)\n",
 					    atomic_read(&active_num_conn));
 			atomic_dec(&active_num_conn);