diff --git a/core/thread.py b/core/thread.py
index 7798454958..cd9e477237 100644
--- a/core/thread.py
+++ b/core/thread.py
@@ -1205,11 +1205,11 @@ async def create(
 
         # Schedule thread setup for later
         cat = self.bot.main_category
-        if category is None and len(cat.channels) == 50:
+        if category is None and len(cat.channels) >= 49:
             fallback_id = self.bot.config["fallback_category_id"]
             if fallback_id:
                 fallback = discord.utils.get(cat.guild.categories, id=int(fallback_id))
-                if fallback and len(fallback.channels) != 50:
+                if fallback and len(fallback.channels) < 49:
                     category = fallback
 
             if not category: