diff --git a/src/anomalib/models/image/efficient_ad/lightning_model.py b/src/anomalib/models/image/efficient_ad/lightning_model.py
index 1f4026a8ac..4fcce26d1c 100644
--- a/src/anomalib/models/image/efficient_ad/lightning_model.py
+++ b/src/anomalib/models/image/efficient_ad/lightning_model.py
@@ -240,10 +240,25 @@ def configure_optimizers(self) -> torch.optim.Optimizer:
             lr=self.lr,
             weight_decay=self.weight_decay,
         )
-        num_steps = min(
-            self.trainer.max_steps,
-            self.trainer.max_epochs * len(self.trainer.datamodule.train_dataloader()),
-        )
+
+        if self.trainer.max_epochs < 0 and self.trainer.max_steps < 0:
+            msg = "A finite number of steps or epochs must be defined"
+            raise ValueError(msg)
+
+        # lightning stops training when either 'max_steps' or 'max_epochs' is reached (earliest),
+        # so actual training steps need to be determined here
+        if self.trainer.max_epochs < 0:
+            # max_epochs not set
+            num_steps = self.trainer.max_steps
+        elif self.trainer.max_steps < 0:
+            # max_steps not set -> determine steps as 'max_epochs' * 'steps in a single training epoch'
+            num_steps = self.trainer.max_epochs * len(self.trainer.datamodule.train_dataloader())
+        else:
+            num_steps = min(
+                self.trainer.max_steps,
+                self.trainer.max_epochs * len(self.trainer.datamodule.train_dataloader()),
+            )
+
         scheduler = torch.optim.lr_scheduler.StepLR(optimizer, step_size=int(0.95 * num_steps), gamma=0.1)
         return {"optimizer": optimizer, "lr_scheduler": scheduler}