diff --git a/waku/v2/protocol/waku_rln_relay/waku_rln_relay_utils.nim b/waku/v2/protocol/waku_rln_relay/waku_rln_relay_utils.nim
index 526bde8c6..8d371fe58 100644
--- a/waku/v2/protocol/waku_rln_relay/waku_rln_relay_utils.nim
+++ b/waku/v2/protocol/waku_rln_relay/waku_rln_relay_utils.nim
@@ -815,7 +815,7 @@ proc validateMessage*(rlnPeer: WakuRLNRelay, msg: WakuMessage,
   debug "message epoch", msgEpoch = fromEpoch(msgEpoch)
 
   # validate the epoch
-  if abs(gap) >= MaxEpochGap:
+  if abs(gap) > MaxEpochGap:
     # message's epoch is too old or too ahead
     # accept messages whose epoch is within +-MaxEpochGap from the current epoch
     debug "invalid message: epoch gap exceeds a threshold", gap = gap,