diff --git a/lib/stackdepot.c b/lib/stackdepot.c
index dd2717ff94bf..90c52f2e0d3f 100644
--- a/lib/stackdepot.c
+++ b/lib/stackdepot.c
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ static bool depot_init_pool(void **prealloc)
 	 * NULL; do not reset to NULL if we have reached the maximum number of
 	 * pools.
 	 */
-	if (pools_num < stack_max_pools)
+	if (pools_num + 1 < stack_max_pools)
 		WRITE_ONCE(new_pool, NULL);
 	else
 		WRITE_ONCE(new_pool, STACK_DEPOT_POISON);