diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/nodeshutdown/nodeshutdown_manager_linux.go b/pkg/kubelet/nodeshutdown/nodeshutdown_manager_linux.go
index 3c33f56f5c6..121af0954fc 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/nodeshutdown/nodeshutdown_manager_linux.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/nodeshutdown/nodeshutdown_manager_linux.go
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ func (m *Manager) start() (chan struct{}, error) {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
-		if updatedInhibitDelay != m.shutdownGracePeriodRequested {
+		if m.shutdownGracePeriodRequested > updatedInhibitDelay {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("node shutdown manager was unable to update logind InhibitDelayMaxSec to %v (ShutdownGracePeriod), current value of InhibitDelayMaxSec (%v) is less than requested ShutdownGracePeriod", m.shutdownGracePeriodRequested, updatedInhibitDelay)
 		}
 	}