diff --git a/src/gates/exponentiation.rs b/src/gates/exponentiation.rs
index 2dd3b009..baaabc2b 100644
--- a/src/gates/exponentiation.rs
+++ b/src/gates/exponentiation.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ impl<F: Extendable<D>, const D: usize> ExponentiationGate<F, D> {
 
     pub fn max_power_bits(num_wires: usize, num_routed_wires: usize) -> usize {
         let max_for_routed_wires = num_routed_wires - 3;
-        let max_for_wires = (num_wires - 2) / 2;
+        let max_for_wires = (num_wires - 3) / 2;
         max_for_routed_wires.min(max_for_wires)
     }