diff --git a/src/journal/journald-native.c b/src/journal/journald-native.c
index 1e2a872c6e..fade424ebc 100644
--- a/src/journal/journald-native.c
+++ b/src/journal/journald-native.c
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ static int manager_process_entry(
                 }
 
                 /* A property follows */
-                if (n > ENTRY_FIELD_COUNT_MAX) {
+                if (n >= ENTRY_FIELD_COUNT_MAX) {
                         log_debug("Received an entry that has more than " STRINGIFY(ENTRY_FIELD_COUNT_MAX) " fields, ignoring entry.");
                         goto finish;
                 }