diff --git a/distribution/packages/src/deb/init.d/elasticsearch b/distribution/packages/src/deb/init.d/elasticsearch
index 21ac80a9c22aa..5ff7a5e74c62f 100755
--- a/distribution/packages/src/deb/init.d/elasticsearch
+++ b/distribution/packages/src/deb/init.d/elasticsearch
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ case "$1" in
 		ulimit -l $MAX_LOCKED_MEMORY
 	fi
 
-	if [ -n "$MAX_MAP_COUNT" -a -f /proc/sys/vm/max_map_count -a "$MAX_MAP_COUNT" -ge $(cat /proc/sys/vm/max_map_count) ]; then
+	if [ -n "$MAX_MAP_COUNT" -a -f /proc/sys/vm/max_map_count -a "$MAX_MAP_COUNT" -gt $(cat /proc/sys/vm/max_map_count) ]; then
 		sysctl -q -w vm.max_map_count=$MAX_MAP_COUNT
 	fi
 
diff --git a/distribution/packages/src/rpm/init.d/elasticsearch b/distribution/packages/src/rpm/init.d/elasticsearch
index d0fb4f759d184..8f91db312738d 100644
--- a/distribution/packages/src/rpm/init.d/elasticsearch
+++ b/distribution/packages/src/rpm/init.d/elasticsearch
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ start() {
     if [ -n "$MAX_LOCKED_MEMORY" ]; then
         ulimit -l $MAX_LOCKED_MEMORY
     fi
-    if [ -n "$MAX_MAP_COUNT" -a -f /proc/sys/vm/max_map_count -a "$MAX_MAP_COUNT" -ge $(cat /proc/sys/vm/max_map_count) ]; then
+    if [ -n "$MAX_MAP_COUNT" -a -f /proc/sys/vm/max_map_count -a "$MAX_MAP_COUNT" -gt $(cat /proc/sys/vm/max_map_count) ]; then
         sysctl -q -w vm.max_map_count=$MAX_MAP_COUNT
     fi
 
diff --git a/qa/vagrant/src/test/resources/packaging/tests/70_sysv_initd.bats b/qa/vagrant/src/test/resources/packaging/tests/70_sysv_initd.bats
index 514091409334e..b20e756e701f4 100644
--- a/qa/vagrant/src/test/resources/packaging/tests/70_sysv_initd.bats
+++ b/qa/vagrant/src/test/resources/packaging/tests/70_sysv_initd.bats
@@ -178,8 +178,7 @@ setup() {
 }
 
 # Ensures that if $MAX_MAP_COUNT is greater than the set vaule on the OS
-# we do not attempt to update it this should cover equality as well as I think
-# we can trust that equality operators work as intended.
+# we do not attempt to update it.
 @test "[INIT.D] sysctl is not run when it already has a larger or equal value set" {
   # intentionally set to the default +1
   sysctl -q -w vm.max_map_count=262145