diff --git a/sys/netpfil/pf/pf_nv.c b/sys/netpfil/pf/pf_nv.c
index 2e813bc49f9..aefd0268dde 100644
--- a/sys/netpfil/pf/pf_nv.c
+++ b/sys/netpfil/pf/pf_nv.c
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ __FBSDID("$FreeBSD$");
 		if (! nvlist_exists_number_array(nvl, name))			\
 			return (EINVAL);					\
 		n = nvlist_get_number_array(nvl, name, &nitems);		\
-		if (nitems != maxelems)						\
+		if (nitems > maxelems)						\
 			return (E2BIG);						\
 		if (nelems != NULL)						\
 			*nelems = nitems;					\