diff --git a/reader_concurrency_semaphore.cc b/reader_concurrency_semaphore.cc
index 7624d02d87..ce189d23d6 100644
--- a/reader_concurrency_semaphore.cc
+++ b/reader_concurrency_semaphore.cc
@@ -1023,8 +1023,8 @@ void reader_concurrency_semaphore::signal(const resources& r) noexcept {
         on_internal_error_noexcept(rcslog,
                 format("reader_concurrency_semaphore::signal(): semaphore {} detected resource leak, available {} exceeds initial {}", _name,
                         _resources, _initial_resources));
-        _resources.count = std::max(_resources.count, _initial_resources.count);
-        _resources.memory = std::max(_resources.memory, _initial_resources.memory);
+        _resources.count = std::min(_resources.count, _initial_resources.count);
+        _resources.memory = std::min(_resources.memory, _initial_resources.memory);
     }
     maybe_wake_execution_loop();
 }