diff --git a/tools/db_bench_tool.cc b/tools/db_bench_tool.cc
index e994f8e9a..789c83566 100644
--- a/tools/db_bench_tool.cc
+++ b/tools/db_bench_tool.cc
@@ -1008,8 +1008,8 @@ DEFINE_uint64(compression_max_dict_buffer_bytes,
 
 static bool ValidateTableCacheNumshardbits(const char* flagname,
                                            int32_t value) {
-  if (0 >= value || value > 20) {
-    fprintf(stderr, "Invalid value for --%s: %d, must be  0 < val <= 20\n",
+  if (0 >= value || value >= 20) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "Invalid value for --%s: %d, must be  0 < val < 20\n",
             flagname, value);
     return false;
   }