diff --git a/weed/shell/command_ec_common.go b/weed/shell/command_ec_common.go
index f1d7012d8..0affc7365 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_ec_common.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_ec_common.go
@@ -783,8 +783,8 @@ func (ecb *ecBalancer) pickRackToBalanceShardsInto(rackToEcNodes map[RackId]*EcR
 			details += fmt.Sprintf("  Skipped %s because it has no free slots\n", rackId)
 			continue
 		}
-		if ecb.replicaPlacement != nil && shards >= ecb.replicaPlacement.DiffRackCount {
-			details += fmt.Sprintf("  Skipped %s because shards %d >= replica placement limit for other racks (%d)\n", rackId, shards, ecb.replicaPlacement.DiffRackCount)
+		if ecb.replicaPlacement != nil && shards > ecb.replicaPlacement.DiffRackCount {
+			details += fmt.Sprintf("  Skipped %s because shards %d > replica placement limit for other racks (%d)\n", rackId, shards, ecb.replicaPlacement.DiffRackCount)
 			continue
 		}
 
@@ -977,8 +977,8 @@ func (ecb *ecBalancer) pickEcNodeToBalanceShardsInto(vid needle.VolumeId, existi
 		}
 
 		shards := nodeShards[node]
-		if ecb.replicaPlacement != nil && shards >= ecb.replicaPlacement.SameRackCount {
-			details += fmt.Sprintf("  Skipped %s because shards %d >= replica placement limit for the rack (%d)\n", node.info.Id, shards, ecb.replicaPlacement.SameRackCount)
+		if ecb.replicaPlacement != nil && shards > ecb.replicaPlacement.SameRackCount {
+			details += fmt.Sprintf("  Skipped %s because shards %d > replica placement limit for the rack (%d)\n", node.info.Id, shards, ecb.replicaPlacement.SameRackCount)
 			continue
 		}
 
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_ec_common_test.go b/weed/shell/command_ec_common_test.go
index f76840f3c..87cf371d7 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_ec_common_test.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_ec_common_test.go
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@ func TestPickRackToBalanceShardsInto(t *testing.T) {
 		{topologyEc, "6241", "123", []string{"rack1", "rack2", "rack3", "rack4", "rack5", "rack6"}, ""},
 		{topologyEc, "6242", "123", []string{"rack1", "rack2", "rack3", "rack4", "rack5", "rack6"}, ""},
 		// EC volumes.
-		{topologyEc, "9577", "", nil, "shards 1 >= replica placement limit for other racks (0)"},
-		{topologyEc, "9577", "111", nil, "shards 1 >= replica placement limit for other racks (1)"},
+		{topologyEc, "9577", "", nil, "shards 1 > replica placement limit for other racks (0)"},
+		{topologyEc, "9577", "111", []string{"rack1", "rack2", "rack3"}, ""},
 		{topologyEc, "9577", "222", []string{"rack1", "rack2", "rack3"}, ""},
 		{topologyEc, "10457", "222", []string{"rack1"}, ""},
 		{topologyEc, "12737", "222", []string{"rack2"}, ""},