diff --git a/av1/encoder/tpl_model.c b/av1/encoder/tpl_model.c
index d3699c9..5dcf47b 100644
--- a/av1/encoder/tpl_model.c
+++ b/av1/encoder/tpl_model.c
@@ -2412,7 +2412,7 @@
       if (qstep <= target_qstep) break;
     }
   } else {
-    for (qindex = leaf_qindex; qindex <= MAXQ; ++qindex) {
+    for (qindex = leaf_qindex; qindex < MAXQ; ++qindex) {
       const double qstep = av1_dc_quant_QTX(qindex, 0, bit_depth);
       if (qstep >= target_qstep) break;
     }