diff --git a/api/src/opentrons/hardware_control/ot3api.py b/api/src/opentrons/hardware_control/ot3api.py
index 5f9c9840834..08dcb488aab 100644
--- a/api/src/opentrons/hardware_control/ot3api.py
+++ b/api/src/opentrons/hardware_control/ot3api.py
@@ -2717,7 +2717,7 @@ async def liquid_probe(
         #  probe_start_pos.z + z_distance of pass - pos.z should be < max_z_dist
         # due to rounding errors this can get caught in an infinite loop when the distance is almost equal
         # so we check to see if they're within 0.01 which is 1/5th the minimum movement distance from move_utils.py
-        while (probe_start_pos.z - pos.z) < (max_z_dist + 0.01):
+        while (probe_start_pos.z - pos.z) < (max_z_dist - 0.01):
             # safe distance so we don't accidentally aspirate liquid if we're already close to liquid
             safe_plunger_pos = top_types.Point(
                 pos.x, pos.y, pos.z + probe_safe_reset_mm
diff --git a/api/tests/opentrons/hardware_control/test_ot3_api.py b/api/tests/opentrons/hardware_control/test_ot3_api.py
index a6ae8e870d1..62eba79f1ff 100644
--- a/api/tests/opentrons/hardware_control/test_ot3_api.py
+++ b/api/tests/opentrons/hardware_control/test_ot3_api.py
@@ -1167,7 +1167,7 @@ async def _fake_pos_update_and_raise(
             OT3Mount.LEFT, fake_max_z_dist, fake_settings_aspirate
         )
     # assert that it went through 4 passes and then prepared to aspirate
-    assert mock_move_to_plunger_bottom.call_count == 4
+    assert mock_move_to_plunger_bottom.call_count == 5
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(