diff --git a/src/plugins/steer/rcpi/rcpi.c b/src/plugins/steer/rcpi/rcpi.c
index 29ba215ab8366c8bc36a50730fd6dae7636ea7ff..798aaf94e1fbabebfd3dc79c799d5087edcc6228 100644
--- a/src/plugins/steer/rcpi/rcpi.c
+++ b/src/plugins/steer/rcpi/rcpi.c
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ int rcpi_steer(void *priv, struct steer_sta *s)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	if (s->s->failed_steer_attempts > sctrl->max_btm_attempt) {
+	if (s->s->failed_steer_attempts >= sctrl->max_btm_attempt) {
 		/* skip further checks for sticky candidates */
 		s->verdict = STEER_VERDICT_EXCLUDE;
 		return 0;