diff --git a/airbyte-cdk/bulk/core/load/src/main/kotlin/io/airbyte/cdk/load/state/CheckpointManager.kt b/airbyte-cdk/bulk/core/load/src/main/kotlin/io/airbyte/cdk/load/state/CheckpointManager.kt
index 7a999616c45aa..6963c214b371f 100644
--- a/airbyte-cdk/bulk/core/load/src/main/kotlin/io/airbyte/cdk/load/state/CheckpointManager.kt
+++ b/airbyte-cdk/bulk/core/load/src/main/kotlin/io/airbyte/cdk/load/state/CheckpointManager.kt
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ abstract class StreamsCheckpointManager<T> : CheckpointManager<DestinationStream
     ) {
         streamIndexes.forEach { (stream, index) ->
             val lastIndex = lastIndexEmitted[stream]
-            if (lastIndex != null && index <= lastIndex) {
+            if (lastIndex != null && index < lastIndex) {
                 throw IllegalStateException(
                     "Checkpoint message for $stream emitted out of order (emitting $index after $lastIndex)"
                 )